The government has been given an ultimatum to issue the 'July Proclamation' by January 15 from the 'March for Unity' program called by the anti-discrimination student movement. At the same time, they also demanded to organize the Constituent Assembly elections for the purpose of reforming the constitution, to prosecute those involved in the July-August massacre, to ensure proper treatment of the injured and to speed up the reform process.
These demands were announced from the rally organized at the Central Shaheed Minar on Tuesday. Various local leaders and workers of anti-discrimination student movement and National Citizen Committee can be seen gathering at Shaheed Minar with fragmented processions since this morning. At this time they gave different slogans. Documentary on the July Revolution is screened.
Nasiruddin Patwari, convenor of the National Citizens Committee, said, “If we do not find the basis of our justification, the words of our blood in the coming proclamation, then we will not sit down. I want to warn the government to be active in abolishing the fascist system immediately, if you can't do it then the tiger cubs of July will take the law into their hands.'
Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, “The murderer Hasina will not be rehabilitated in this country.” For the last 16 years, the murderous Hasina has tortured every political power and deprived the people of their voting rights. We forced this Hasina to run away. I would like to tell the government that the law and order situation has not normalized yet, the price of goods has not been controlled. We are yet to secure justice for 16 years of extrajudicial killings. So far we have not had any manifesto of the July People's Revolution. Declaration of the July coup must be issued by January 15. Our struggle against Awami League will continue.
Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizens Committee, said, 'The murderers still roam freely in front of us. They must be judged. How our comrades are still attacked in Gopalganj. I want to say to the police, if you cannot provide security, there is no need to sit on that chair. If anyone tries to betray the dream for which so many people have given their lives and blood, they must be uprooted.'
Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the National Citizens Committee called for the election of the Constituent Assembly and said, 'People of Bangladesh want proclamation, new constitution, reform. The new constitution will be through the elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh. The next election will be the Constituent Assembly election. This Constituent Assembly will formulate a new constitution.'
Arif Sohel, member secretary of the anti-discrimination student movement, lamented, “Since the liberation war, we have not been able to build a people's state.”
Samantha Sharmeen, spokesperson of the National Citizens Committee said, 'Even after 5 months of the coup, I have not seen anyone taking any initiative for the July Proclamation. After the anti-discrimination student movement took the initiative, the government took the initiative. I want to tell the government that the proclamation must be announced by January 15.'
Spokesperson of anti-discrimination student movement, Umama Fatema said, 'I applaud the initiative of the government but we do not want any delay with this proclamation. There will be no election before the trial of Awami League. Justice has not been done to those injured in the July coup.'
Various discussions have been going on in the country's political arena for the past two days about the 'July Revolution Declaration'. When various arguments for and against the declaration start, the government announces that the government will give the declaration of the coup. Later on Monday night, the leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement said that the 'March for Unity' program will be held at the central Shaheed Minar at 3 pm today.
The 'March for Unity' program officially began at 4 pm on Tuesday with a minute's silence for the martyrs of the July uprising.
Khan Talat Al Mahmud, central coordinator of anti-discrimination student movement, Rifat Rasheed, Mahin Sarkar, Nusrat Tabassum, private university representative Naeem Abedin, Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kobra, Shahid Muddar Baba and many others spoke in the rally.
