An exhibition titled “Saluting the Brave Hearts, 36 days of July’ has been inaugurated, dedicated to the martyrs and injured from the student and public uprising in July.
The exhibition, organized by the English daily The Daily Star, began on Saturday evening with the opening ceremony at the Daily Star premises in Farmgate, Dhaka.
The program was inaugurated by Mahfuz Anam, the editor of The Daily Star, who began the event with a moment of silence to pay respects to the martyrs.
The members of the student movement's central committee, leaders of the movement, and invited representatives were present at the program.
After the opening, Mahfuz Anam spoke to the media, saying: "July is a historic month. The sacrifices made by so many people in July need to be documented. The purpose of this exhibition is to showcase the history of July 24 and highlight the sacrifices made during the movement.
“Through this exhibition, we aim to bring forward the history of this period, and we will assist others in using these photographs and news archives for their exhibitions."
The exhibition features over a hundred photographs capturing various moments from the July movement.
Each photograph tells the story of the bravery and heroism of the students and the public, reflecting the courage shown during the struggle.
The images serve as a powerful reminder of the events of those days.
Among those attending the exhibition were Abdul Matin and his wife, the parents of Mohammad Mamun, a victim of the July movement.
Viewing a photo of their son, Mamun’s mother, Khadija Khatun, broke down in tears.
"What was my son’s crime? Why did he have to be shot? His five-year-old child is now an orphan, asking for his father.”
She added: "The government that has come so far is the government that wants power, wants to hold the chair. This cannot continue. I demand the highest punishment for those involved in the killings of July. They will not be forgiven."
Recalling the tragic day, Mamun’s father, Abdul Matin, said: "My son was shot on July 18. Just seven days earlier, he had come to Dhaka to visit me. I had bought him a private car, which he was going to fix. We spoke on the phone during Zuhr prayers, and he told me he would return home after prayer. But by Asar, I received news that he had been shot. I rushed him to Dhaka Medical College, but after observing the condition at DMCH, I took him to Mohakhali. I was told he had passed away at 3:30pm”
He said: "I didn’t witness the Liberation War, but I saw the movement of 2024. I don’t want any other parents to lose their children like I did."
Also present at the exhibition was Dhaka University student Abanti Barman, who emphasized the importance of such exhibitions.
"Exhibitions like this are essential so that the people of this country, especially the younger generation, can learn more about the sacrifices made by the students."
Visitor Ovi Zahid said: "We do not want another July. From this July, we hope to move forward with the necessary lessons learned."
Taiba Tasneen Roza, a student from Holy Cross College, came with her father and brother.
"I could not be part of the movement, but my friends were. Today, I came with my family to see their photographs. I’m glad to be here. I’ve learned so much about the martyrs and injured individuals that I didn’t know before,” said Roza.
Asif Mahmud, a BSS student at ULAB University, said: "I was part of the movement too, and these photographs today bring back many memories. These images are reminders of that time, and although the memories may not be happy, they represent what we have gained today and the peace we can breathe in."
Farhana, a Computer Engineering student from United International University, shared her experience of being part of the movement from the beginning.
"We were kept under surveillance by the Chhatra League near our hostel, but we still managed to sneak out. I witnessed how a protest became a mass movement. These photographs and news reports are testimony to that."
She added: "The struggles we faced, will not be in vain. No matter the current situation, I hope the future will be better."
The exhibition will be open from December 1 to December 7, from 10am to 8pm.
Alongside the photographs, it will showcase important videos and news reports from the July student movement.
As part of the exhibition, various discussions will take place, including "Courage in Crisis: Stories of Volunteers in the July Rebellion" on Sunday, "Protest in teaching: A Discussion with University Professors at the Forefront" on Monday, "Women, Life, Freedom: A Dialogue on Women’s Political Representation" on Tuesday, "The Blackout Chronicles: How Journalists and Activists Navigated the Blackout" on Wednesday, "Voices from the Edge of the July Revolution: Struggles, Sacrifices, and Stories of Workers' Hope" on Thursday, and "Writing Protest: Authors and Poets Share Their Rebellion Stories" on Saturday.