BSS
  05 Sep 2024, 21:34

People from all ages, races march throng 'Shaheedi March'

DHAKA, Sept 5, 2024 (BSS) - Thousands of people from all ages and races were 
seen taking part in the 'Shaheedi March' in the city to pay tribute to the 
martyrs of the uprising marking one-month of the fall of the autocratic Awami 
League regime.

Students from different schools, colleges, universities and madrasha along 
with people from different ages and professions were gathering from 2:30pm to 
join the event at Dhaka University's Raju Memorial Sculpture premises, the 
central venue of the march, with national flags, placards and banners.

As part of nationwide march, organised by the Anti-discrimination Student 
Movement, the march remembering the memory of those killed in July and 
August, started at 3:40 pm from the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture at 
Dhaka University.

Starting from TSC, the march headed to Manik Mia Avenue via Nilkhet, Science 
Lab and Kalabagan. After parading through Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan 
Bazar, Shahbagh and TSC, the march ended at Shaheed Minar premises with a 
short rally.

Tahira Nasreen, 45, a primary school teacher, who came to join the event from 
Joypurhat with her 8th grader son Addullah Taki Toha and daughter Farhana 
Tabassum, a first year student of Bangladesh University of professionals 
(BUP), said, "I cannot resist myself from joining such event earned through 
huge bloodshed and sacrifice of the students and people".

After 16 years of suppression, the country people have now got their freedom 
and the opportunity to raise their voice, she said, adding, "I hope the 
interim government will be able to meet people's expectations as well as 
taking responsible decisions towards the martyrs and the injured people".

"It's a historic moment for us to celebrate the one-month of the fall of 
dictatorship which came after huge sacrifice and bloodshed", said Sarmin Khan 
Eva, a student of Shamsul Hque Khan School and College who came from Demra, 
Jatrabari.

"I was on the streets during the movement. After the upsurge, I also worked 
with my fellow students in managing and controlling traffic as well as 
painting graffiti...everything we did out of enthusiasm for my loving 
country", he added. 
 
 "The mass upsurge has changed people's mindset as they are now feeling free 
and raising their voices whenever they witness any irregularities or 
corruption. I think it's a major achievement for the new Bangladesh", said a 
first year student of BUP Farhana Tabassum.

"We came here in a group of people comprised of people from all ages and 
professions as everyone from Jatrabari area, one of the hotspot during the 
movement, were willing to join the central event", said Maria Khan Mim, one 
of the co-coordinator of Jatrabari area.