Desk News: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman addressed a discussion titled ‘July 36’ after the formal inauguration of the July Uprising Memorial Museum located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Wednesday. Photo: PMO
Dhaka, August 5, 2026 (BSS): Assuring the grieving family members of the victims of the anti-fascist movement, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that every murder committed in the anti-fascist movement will be tried in a transparent, impartial and credible manner by following the due process of law.
He said that the current government believes that it is very important to try every crime to establish the rule of law. The government has decided to name any institution in its area after the people who were martyred and subjected to disappearances and murders in the past 17 years and the July Movement.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made these remarks at a discussion titled ‘July 36’ after the official inauguration of the July Uprising Memorial Museum located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital this Wednesday morning.
Regarding the July Uprising Memorial Museum, the Prime Minister said, ‘The democracy-loving people of the country hope that this museum will not be a place to establish a single political narrative of any party, group or individual. The 2024 mass uprising is not of a single person, group or party. The great heroes of this uprising are the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh.’
She said, “The 1971 Liberation War was about achieving independence. And the 2024 mass uprising was about protecting the independence of the country and the people. Just as the people did not forget the freedom fighters of 1971, similarly the people will never forget the martyrs of the 2024 mass uprising.”
Warning against the attempts to create instability in the country, the Prime Minister said, “In fascism-free Bangladesh, by creating unnecessary issues, I urge you to consider whether they are unknowingly paving the way for the revival of a fallen and fugitive dictatorship in this situation.”
Recalling the horrors of the long decade and a half of dictatorial rule, she said, “Today is another epoch-making milestone in the history of democracy in Bangladesh. Thousands of people were victims of disappearances and kidnappings in the anti-fascist movement for more than a decade and a half. Millions of people were displaced from their homes for years due to torture, persecution, attacks and false cases. Thousands of students, women and children were martyred in the July-August uprising alone.
The Prime Minister said, “To prevent the July-August uprising, the fascist clique killed the pro-democracy people by shooting from helicopters. Such atrocities and barbarity of the fallen, defeated and expelled fascists are rare in the civilized world. During the fascist regime, disappearances, murders and kidnappings were made normal rules. This atrocity, which lasted for more than a decade and a half, can only be compared with the three and a half years of misrule of the post-independence Awami League government.”
The Prime Minister said, stating that the July Uprising Memorial Museum will present the courageous history of their predecessors to future generations, “This museum will expose the faces of the expelled fascists to the new generation.” This memorial museum is a historic initiative to permanently capture the struggle, sacrifice, pain, courage and democratic aspirations of our people in the national memory.’
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that this museum will not only be a memorial to the brutal events of 2024, but will also highlight the relationship between the July Uprising and the democratic journey of the people of Bangladesh.
She said that it is important to preserve not only the July Uprising, but also the history of every democratic movement and struggle in Bangladesh.
Stating that the ousted fascist clique could never accept democratic rule in the country, the Prime Minister said, ‘Their predecessors wrote the grave of democracy in the country by changing the constitution in 1975. Later, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence, came to power and established a multi-party democracy in the country. If these histories are preserved in the July Uprising Memorial Museum, future generations will definitely benefit.’
He said, incomplete, exaggerated or purposeful narration does not strengthen history; rather, it weakens the credibility of history and becomes a cause of future division. Therefore, it is necessary to have as much truth as possible in every matter. At the same time, if the subjects kept in the museum are presented in English and other languages ​​besides Bengali, it will be convenient for people of different languages ​​​​around the world to learn about the history of the democratic struggle of Bangladesh.’
Regarding the rehabilitation and treatment of injured July fighters, the Prime Minister said, the fighters injured in the July Uprising are being provided free medical services in government hospitals. In addition, seriously injured July fighters are being treated in various countries including Thailand, Singapore, Turkey, Russia for proper and advanced treatment.
He said, ‘Currently, 50 July fighters are undergoing treatment abroad. More than 13,000 July fighters are being paid class-based monthly honorarium in their own bank accounts among the gazetted July fighters. The current government is sincere in providing state-level assistance to the victims of the anti-fascist movement.
Reiterating his commitment to state reform, he said, “In addition to providing financial assistance to the July fighters, the current government has also started working to establish the Bangladesh desired by the martyrs.
As part of this, the implementation of the BNP’s 31-point and election manifesto, as well as the July Charter signed at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, has also begun in stages.”
He said that at the same time, the ‘Special Committee on Constitutional Amendments’ formed in the National Parliament has also started working to implement the aspirations of the referendum. By reorganizing the country, we will build the Bangladesh desired by the martyrs, InshaAllah.’
At the end of the speech, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the army for standing by the people in the mass uprising and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families of the martyrs, saying, ‘Bangladesh will never again become a vassal state.’
After the Prime Minister’s speech, the cultural phase of the program highlighted the spirit, patriotism and democratic values ​​of the July Mass Uprising through patriotic songs, recitations and cultural performances with the participation of renowned artists of the country.
Earlier, the national anthem was played at the beginning of the program. Later, holy scriptures were read.
Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Kaniz Maula, delivered a welcome speech at the program. Later, Fatima Tuz Johra, mother of Shaheed Abdullah bin Zahid, mother of Shaheed Shahriar Khan Anas, Sanjida Khan Dipti, and July fighter Nishat Tabassum Prati shared emotional memories.
The event, chaired by Minister of Culture Nitai Roy Chowdhury, was attended by former Chief Advisor to the Interim Government Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ahmed Azam Khan, State Minister for Culture Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khayyam, and Prime Minister’s Information and Cultural Affairs Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman.
BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson of his office Mahdi Amin, Press Secretary Saleh Shibli and Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon were present at the event.
The Prime Minister’s daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman was also present at the event.
Representatives of various ministries and departments, members of parliament, high-ranking government officials, diplomats, intellectuals, educationists, cultural figures, July fighters, July martyrs’ family members, political figures, media workers and prominent people from different classes and professions were also present at the event.
Views: 0
