Anti-Discrimination Student Movement President Rifat Rashid on Wednesday criticized the National Citizen Committee (NCP), alleging that leaders who rose to prominence through the July movement failed to stand by the July revolutionaries during critical moments.
“Those who became leaders by centering July and through the July movement did not really stand beside the July revolutionaries,” he said at a press conference held at 12:30pm at Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University.
Questioning the role of the NCP over the recent arrest of July movement activists Mahdi Hasan and Tahrima Jannat Surovi, he said the group remained silent when the activists were at risk.
“Although they issued statements after the two were released, they remained silent when danger loomed,” he said.
He warned political forces against distancing themselves from the July movement in pursuit of electoral gains.
“If you think that by going to the election field, playing the game of votes, and chasing the so-called votes of the Awami League you can abandon the July revolutionaries, then you are making a grave mistake,” he said.
Rifat also criticized the Awami League, calling it hostile to the country.
“The Awami League is never a friend of Bangladesh. The Awami League has never been anyone’s friend. The Awami League is like a black cobra—now it is hiding in a hole, but the moment it gets a chance, it will strike so fiercely that not only will you die from its venom, the fighters of our July mass uprising will not be spared either,” he said.
At the press conference, Rifat Rashid also announced a three-point program and outlined the movement’s demands.
Programs
- The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has begun compiling a list of officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations across the country under whose jurisdictions students and civilians were martyred during the July mass uprising, along with the superintendents of police (SPs) and higher commanding officers of those districts. The list will be submitted to the ICT Tribunal, and cases will be filed accordingly.
- The movement will hold discussions with the law adviser and the home affairs adviser to ensure the issuance of an indemnity ordinance by the president.
- The movement will continue its programs to meet with the leaders of the two largest political alliances during the election period to ensure that their election manifestos uphold the revolutionary spirit of July and explicitly guarantee the security of the July revolutionaries.
Demands
- Mahdi Hasan and Tahrima Jannat Surovi must be acquitted of charges against them, and a probe committee must be formed to take punitive action against police and administrative officials, including Omar Faruk, who harassed them.
- An ordinance must be issued by the president within the next 24 hours granting immunity for all activities carried out by students, workers, and members of the public who participated in the July mass uprising between July 1 and August 8.
- The history of all military, paramilitary, and civil administration officials, soldiers, and employees—including those from the army, navy, and air force—who made significant contributions to the July revolution must be documented. Their honor, recognition, and legal protection must be ensured, and a permanent commission must be formed to prevent workplace harassment. Additionally, armed forces officers denied promotion after facing repression since February 25, 2009 must be promptly promoted and appointed to important and sensitive positions.
