DHAKA, Nov 30, 2024 (BSS)- Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today called upon all the stakeholders of the mass uprising to maintain unity to sustain its achievements and materialize the aspirations of the martyrs.

“A number of revolutions in global history including Arab Spring in Tunisia and Syria failed to materialize the aspirations of the movement in the long run.  We must materialize the dreams of July uprising martyrs by building an independent and sovereign Bangladesh in true sense”, he said.

He was addressing a memorial meeting on July uprising titled ‘Smritir Minar: Gono Abhyuthan-2024’, organized by Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall at Jatiya press Club, with BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed in the chair.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, writer Rakhal Raha, Poet and activist Ferdous Ara Rumi, Members of BSS board of directors Fazlul Huq and Nure Alam Masud, and Gono Odhikar Parishad general secretary Muhammad Rashed Khan also addressed the memorial discussion, conducted by BSS Special Correspondent Didarul Alam.  

The interim government has been making all out efforts to build an independent and sovereign and dignified Bangladesh in true sense to materialize the dream of the martyrs.

Dr Asif Nazrul called everyone to search the truth and refrain from character assassination of each other saying, “Spreading misinformation, propaganda, blaming others, oppression or torture were the weapons of fascist force… Our weapons are truth, unity and getting rid of repression and discrimination”.
    
Regarding an allegation against him about holding meetings with Indian allies in the Dhaka cantonment on August 3 and 4 before the ouster of Awami League regime, Asif Nazrul said it is completely a fabricated allegation.

Mentioning his activities of August 3 and 4, he said, “On August 3, after attending the student movement’s rally at Shaheed Minar, I was there till 9pm with Mahbub Morshed and others. Later, I stayed the night at Professor Mustafa Mamun’s house at fuller road area on Dhaka University after being informed that I might be arrested or killed”.

“In the night of August 4, I attended a programme with online activists after the evening. You might hear the audio of the meeting where I said we might be arrested or killed and stayed there till 10 pm. Later, I went again to Mostafa Mamun’s house and stayed there on that night”, he added.

The adviser said attempts are being made in the name of deliberate criticism to weaken the interim government, create disunity among the stakeholders of mass uprising and destabilize the country.

“Criticize our work, there is no problem. But when personal character assassination is done based on completely absurd and false information, then it seems like it’s being done with bad intentions to weaken this government, create disunity and destabilize the country,” he said.

Calling for constructive suggestions, the adviser said, “Quarrelling among ourselves, blaming each other, assassinating characters and spreading false information are nothing but showing disrespect to the martyrs and sacrifices of the student-people”.

Recalling the memories of the martyrs of the mass uprising, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, “We could not understand how such a great movement occurred in Bangladesh like a cinema before our eyes. The movement has touched each individual of the country except the beneficiaries of fascism”.

Shafiqul Alam mentioned the unprecedented participation of girls in the movement since its beginning and appraised the students’ strategy of formulating decentralized leadership with no chief or head to avoid being targeted by law enforcers easily.

“It was a great movement for those of us who were doing journalism,” he said, adding, “During 1990 movements, there were regulated presses. And ‘1971’ was a gigantic failure in terms of doing journalism as there had been very poor journalism since December, 1971.”

“There has been brilliant journalism during the movement as the media played courageous role in presenting ins and outs of the student-led mass movement, with journalists and photographers showing huge bravery in the ground level,” he added.    

Shafiqul recalled how his news agency AFP aided the foreign and local journalists with providing internet services during countrywide internet blackout.      

BSS Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed urged everyone to uphold the spirit of July revolution and said, "There are a lot of memories of the mass uprising. On behalf of BSS, we have heard some stories of the  significant movement".

Writer Rakhal Raha highlighted the role of guardians and parents saying, “While staging solidarity rallies of parents with students, I saw so many guardians who had never been on the streets”.   
 
Poet and activist Ferdous Ara Rumi urged everyone to stand united against the cohorts of Awami League who have been hatching conspiracies to make divisions among the stakeholders of mass uprising.

Member of BSS board of directors Fazlul Huq said the cohorts of fascism have been hatching conspiracies in all possible ways to create unrest in the country.

Mentioning the interim government as pro-people one, Fazlu said everyone should come forward and support the government to materialize the dreams of heroes who sacrificed their lives for an independent and sovereign country in true sense.