Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem on Wednesday alleged that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has repeatedly benefited from past revolutions in Bangladesh while betraying those who carried them out.
He made the remarks while presiding over an event titled “The July Charter and Reforms: The Aspirations of Martyrs’ Families,” held Wednesday afternoon in front of the DUCSU building at Dhaka University.
“Every revolution the country has seen — BNP has walked away with the fruits of it every single time,” he said. “They’ve always managed to bring the harvest home for themselves, while turning their backs on the people who fought for it.”
He further accused the party of betraying the nation since coming to power through election. “They are betraying the martyrs. They are betraying the martyrs’ families. And we’ve already seen them recommend the repeal of 20 ordinances,” he added.
Acknowledging that there are serious questions surrounding elections, he urged the party to reflect on the sacrifices made during past movements. “Even so, we want you — having come to power through elections in the wake of the revolution — to remember the dreams of those who gave their lives. Build this new Bangladesh in the spirit of what they sacrificed for,” he said.
The event also featured speeches from other DUCSU leaders and members of martyrs’ families.
Meanwhile, a student of the 2023–24 session of the Department of International Relations at Dhaka University, Sadique Munem, began a hunger strike unto death at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture, demanding implementation of three points, including the implementation of Referendum 2026.
Later, family members of five people who died in the July Uprising joined him in expressing solidarity before leaving shortly after. A student of the 2024–25 session of the Sociology Department at Dhaka University, Sakibur Rahman, also joined Sadique Munem in the hunger strike.