Dhaka: Speakers at a programme here today emphasized that the July Uprising belongs to everyone, advocating for equal rights for women and men in alignment with the spirit of the mass upsurge. 'Those who do not accept July Uprising are none of us. July does not belong to anyone alone. It belongs to all of us. We do not sell July, nor will we allow anyone to sell it,' they declared during the event.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the remarks were made while addressing a programme commemorating 'July Women's Day' at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital this evening. The event featured a performance by July fighter Farzana Wahid Sayan, who sang revolutionary songs, and began with the national anthem performed by Dhaka University students and members of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
A documentary produced by the Women and Children Affairs Ministry was screened at 6:30 pm, providing a historical perspective on the movement. The event was graced by several notable figures, including Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmin S Murshid, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, and others.
Farzana Wahid Sayan continued to engage the audience with songs focusing on the July Uprising, such as 'Ei Meye Shono', 'Ami Julyer Golpo Bolbo', and 'Amar Nam Palestine'. The programme also included heartfelt memories from the mother of martyr Naima Sultana, July fighters, and Dhaka University teachers Saima and Umama, along with Abrar Fayaz, Swarna Riya, and others who reflected on the days when women actively participated in the anti-autocratic movement.
The July fighters expressed their desire for freedom of movement and speech in the independent country, urging the government to ensure equal rights and prevent atrocities against women. They warned that failure to address these issues would lead them to take to the streets once more in protest.
Speakers at the event also voiced their opposition to a return to the authoritarian era of fascist Sheikh Hasina. The programme concluded with the screening of a documentary on martyr Abarar Fahad and musical performances by singers Mahjabin and Elita Karim, who sang a variety of songs celebrating the spirit of the uprising.
A highlight of the evening was a musical 'drone show' held at 11:20 pm, where 2,000 drones depicted the story of July in a display organized jointly by the Bangladesh and Chinese governments. The drone show artistically illustrated the historical journey of Bangladesh leading up to the July Uprising, capturing the pivotal moment on July 14 when female students of Dhaka University emerged from their halls to invigorate the movement, with the cultural programme continuing past midnight.