BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday said the July uprising of 2024 did not belong to any individual, party or group, describing it as a genuine mass movement of people deprived of their rights and committed to democracy.
He made the remarks while speaking at an exchange meeting with families of those killed and injured in the July uprising at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital.
“The movement was, in the truest sense, a mass uprising of pro-democracy people,” Tarique said. “1971 was about achieving independence, while the 2024 movement was about protecting that independence and sovereignty.”
He said the independence achieved in 1971 was safeguarded through the 2024 movement and added that July fighters should therefore be recognized as freedom fighters.
Tarique Rahman further said that if BNP comes to power with public support, a separate department would be formed under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to look after the families of those killed and injured in the July uprising.
“The state cannot bring back those we have lost,” he said, adding that it has a responsibility to care for the bereaved families and ensure proper treatment and rehabilitation for the injured.
Referring to the scale of violence, the BNP leader claimed that more than 1,400 people were killed and around 30,000 injured during the July uprising, with hundreds suffering permanent disabilities, including loss of eyesight. He described the events of July as “genocide”.
Stressing the importance of the upcoming national election, Tarique called it “extremely, extremely important” for establishing a safe and democratic Bangladesh.
“If we fail to establish democracy, the nation will continue to witness mourning gatherings and tragic stories,” he said, urging pro-democracy forces to remain vigilant against attempts to turn the movement into a partisan agenda.
He also said the anti-fascist movement of 2024 was a collective struggle involving people from all walks of life, regardless of political affiliation, religion or profession.
The BNP chairman later offered prayers for the July martyrs and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
