Dhaka: To honour the martyrs of the July Uprising, a monument named ‘Gono Minar’ (People’s Monument), will be built at the Bijoy Saroni Crossing in the city. A civil society forum under the banner of Gono Minar Implementation Committee, made the announcement at a press conference held at Madhur Canteen at Dhaka University here today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the monument will be set up in the green space between Bijoy Smarani and Bir Uttam Major General Azizur Rahman Road. The committee will raise public donation for its construction. Speaking at the press conference, Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam emphasized the importance of remembering the resistance of July fighters, stating that it is crucial for building identity and awareness. He expressed the desire for the Gono Minar to be a place where people from all walks of life can connect with history.
Filmmaker and architect Kamar Ahmad Simon highlighted the significance of monuments in preserving history, noting that they attract more people than museums due to their open nature. He mentioned that the monument will feature 250 years of resistance history and include the names of 1,400 martyrs of the July Uprising, recognized by the United Nations. Simon stressed that the monument will be a collective effort of the people, transcending political divisions.
The press conference was also attended by Prof. Samina Luthfa of the Sociology Department, Khorshed Alam, associate professor of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department at Dhaka University, and writer Mohammad Romel, among others.