Ekushey Medal winner and editor of Daily Amar Desh newspaper Dr. Mahmudur Rahman addressed the concluding day of the five-day Shaheed Abu Saeed Book Fair in Rangpur today. Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, Feb 22, 2025 (BSS) - Ekushey Medal winner courageous journalist and 
editor of the daily Amar Desh, Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, has said that Shaheed Abu 
Sayeed has dispelled fear from the hearts of Bengalese with his life. 
 
"By sacrificing his life on July 16, 2024, Abu Sayeed has become a symbol of 
revolution not only in Bangladesh but also in the entire world. With his 
life, he created the necessary environment to build a fascism-free 
Bangladesh," he said. 
 
Rahman said this while speaking as the chief guest at the closing day 
discussion of the five-day Shaheed Abu Sayeed Book Fair at the Independence 
Memorial Square of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) on Saturday 
afternoon. 
 
He said that students have played a leading role in all revolutions in 
Bangladesh, starting from the language movement. 

"As an inspiration for the revolution, the next generation will wear a shirt 
with a picture of Abu Sayeed, not 'Che Guevara'," he said.

Rahman said, "Shaheed Abu Sayeed's sacrifice will be worthwhile only if we 
can build a discrimination-free Bangladesh with the collective efforts of 
all."

He called on the BRUR authority to take the initiative to conduct research on 
the July Revolution and all martyrs, including Abu Sayeed, the iconic scene 
of whom has moved the hearts of the people of Bangladesh. 

He said that Abu Sayeed took the police and murderer fascist Hasina to the 
streets on July 16, and all students joined the movement. Hasina's fascism 
and the hegemony of India have been defeated by the students forcing her to 
flee the country.

"We saw the July Revolution move forward through various turns in 36 days. 
One of the main ones was Abu Sayeed. On July 16, Abu Sayeed stood in front of 
the police with both hands raised stretching his chest," he said.

Dr Mahmudur Rahman firmly hoped that in the future Bangladesh, there will be 
no discrimination and there will be democracy and human rights. 

 
BRUR Vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Showkat Ali presided over the 
discussion. 

In his closing speech, Professor Dr Md Showkat Ali said that in the July 
Movement last year, students risked their lives to stand against 
discrimination. 

"We got a new Bangladesh in exchange for Abu Sayeed's blood. Martyr Abu 
Sayeed has shown that there is no place for injustice in Begum Rokeya 
University. The current administration is working to eliminate all 
discrimination here," he said.

At the same time, the Vice-chancellor expressed his desire to conduct 
research activities on the July Uprising and Martyr Abu Sayeed on a large 
scale at the university. 
 
Inqilab Manch spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi spoke as a special guest and 
Steadfast Courier founder and CEO KM Ridwanul Bari Zion spoke as an honored 
guest. 

Convener of the Shahid Abu Sayeed Book Fair Organizing Committee Professor Dr 
Md Elias Pramanik moderated the discussion while Professor Dr Md Tajul Islam, 
Director of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) delivered a 
welcome address. 
 
After the discussion, the Vice-chancellor along with the invited guests, 
visited various stalls of the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Book Fair.