Photo: Collected

DHAKA, March 1, 2025 (BSS) - Religions for Peace, Bangladesh (RFPB), a non-political organization, has given financial assistance to the July Warriors who sustained eye and physical injuries in firing form law enforcement agencies during July Uprising.

A total of 25 July Warriors were given the financial support at a function at the Maulana Akram Khan Auditorium of the National Press Club here.

Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) General Secretary Khorshed Alam, Bangladesh Parliament Journalists Association President Harun Jamil, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Executive Member Md. Modabber Hossain, RFPB Organizing Secretary Ahmed Selim Reza, Programme Coordinator Dr. Mohammad Amanullah Khan, and Treasurer Anjan Das were present. RFPB Vice President Tarun Tapan Chakrabarty chaired the event.
 
July Warriors Anwarul Azim who came from Cumilla but live in Feni for study said he was involved with this movement from the beginning.

“On the dreadful day, I was shot in my left leg. Later, I was taken to the hospital. As my condition did not improve, I was sent from Feni to Cumilla. From there, I was sent to Dhaka. Since my treatment did not improve here either, I will have to undergo treatment abroad," he added.

Another July Warrior, Durjoy Ahmed, who lost his eye in the July Uprising, said, "I lost both eyes in this movement. First, one of my eyes was lost. Later, due to lack of treatment, the other eye was also lost. I sought treatment in many hospitals in the country, but I did not receive good treatment. Later, on my own initiative, I went to Chennai, India, and Thailand."

He added, “But my eyesight has not improved due to the weakness of the optic nerve. I request you; please stand beside the injured persons even if it is on your own initiative as they are helpless.”

Omar Faruk, another July Warrior, said, “I live in Bogura district, but received injury in front of the Gazipur Ansar Academy.”

He added, “On August 4, I was shot many times, out of which five shots hit my left eye and seven shots on my right eye. And there is no possibility of restoring my eyesight.”

He continued, “People are now able to speak for those injured and martyrs in this movement. We want proper treatment for our injured.”

RFPB Organizing Secretary Ahmed Selim Reza said this organization works to establish peace all over the world. 

“The assistance we are giving you today is not much, but the only thing is that we are beside your side.” 

DUJ General Secretary Khorshed Alam expressed gratitude to the martyrs and injured persons of July uprising. 

“The oppression and torture over the last 16 years came to an end through the July Uprising. The July Revolution is the outcome of the ceaseless struggle the people of the country for 16 years,” he said.

“In the last 16 years, we have lost many precious lives, including Ilyas Ali. Many have become crippled.” 

Khorshed Alam said although the official count is less, but more than 2,000 lives were lost in the July Revolution and over 20,000 people have been crippled as per the estimates of various organizations.

He said, “If we look at the list of freedom fighters after the Liberation War in 1971, we will see that more than half are fake. The same trend is seen after July Uprising. This is nothing but a fraud with the real warriors of July movement, he said.

RFPB, a non-political international organization established in 1970, has been working in different countries of the world to achieve the goal of “Different Faiths, Common Goal for Peace”, leader of the organization said.