Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain on Monday unveiled the nameplates of "Shaheed Junaid Chattar" and "Shaheed Shahriar Khan Anas Road" at a ceremony held near Dhupkhola field in Dhaka’s Gendaria area.
The newly designated “Shaheed Junaid Chattar” commemorates the July uprising martyr Mehedi Hasan Junaid, while “Shaheed Shahriar Khan Anas Road” honours the memory of martyr Shahriar Khan Anas. Both were martyrs of the July uprising.
At the ceremony, Asif Mahmud recalled the harrowing events of the morning of August 5, saying: “I was beside the spot in Chankharpul where Anas and Junaid embraced martyrdom.”
He added: “We had just broken the barricade of police and APBN and were preparing to march toward the Shaheed Minar. But then, gunfire erupted, leaving Junaid, Anas, and many others dead that day.”
He also said: “Their blood will not go in vain. We are committed to building the Bangladesh they dreamed of, which resulted from their unyielding patriotism and sacrifice.”
He emphasized the urgent need for collective action to ensure that no one else has to sacrifice their life to dismantle a fascist regime.
He continued: “We must unite in our struggle to bring about exemplary justice for this genocide and to implement structural reforms in our institutions. It is unacceptable that forces, funded by the people’s tax, can carry out such atrocities with impunity.”
He went on saying: “I firmly believe that with the united efforts of people across the country, this struggle will succeed.”
Martyr Anas's mother and martyr Junaid's father delivered speeches at the event. They demanded the declaration and implementation of the “July charter” as soon as possible.
In addition, they also made a call to the interim government to take measures to preserve the graves and memories of all martyrs.
Shahriar Khan Anas was born on October 14, 2007, and became a martyr on August 5, 2024.
Before joining the movement, he wrote a letter that started with “Ma, (Mother) I am going to the procession," which was Anas's last expression.
Besides, Mehedi Hasan Junaid was born on October 8, 2009, and embraced martyrdom while marching in Chankharpul on August 5, 2024.