Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) on Friday organised a marathon titled “League Dhor” [Catch the League] and inaugurated a three-day photo exhibition titled “Roktakkhor-e July” [July in Blood-stained Letters] at Dhaka University to mark Terrorism Prevention Day.
The marathon commenced at 6:00am with students from various departments. Organisers said the event was held to commemorate the expulsion of Bangladesh Chhatra League from Dhaka University’s residential halls on 17 July 2024, and to preserve the memories of July movement.
The route began at Curzon Hall, proceeding through Central Shaheed Minar, TSC, Toron, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, and Masterda Surja Sen Hall, before concluding at Arts Building.
Following the run, the three-day exhibition was officially inaugurated at 8:00am at the university’s Bottala by Shadik Kayem, Vice President (VP) of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
The event was attended by several student leaders, including DUCSU General Secretary (GS) and ICS Central Publicity Secretary SM Farhad, DUCSU Transport Secretary and ICS Central International Secretary Asif Abdullah, and Dhaka University Shibir Secretary Kazi Ashik, alongside Organising Secretary Mu Sajjad Hossain Khan.
Speaking at the inauguration, DUCSU VP Sadiq Kayem said the expulsion of the “terrorist organisation Chhatra League” on 17 July marked the start of a “new freedom,” which reached its ultimate form with the fall of fascism on 5 August.
He added that there is no alternative to implementing the July Charter to ensure justice for the martyrs and to build Bangladesh they desired.
DUCSU GS SM Farhad warned that various conspiracies are afoot to erase the memories of July Revolution from public sphere, with some individuals attempting to re-establish fascist narratives. He added that the history of mass participation and the oppression faced during the movement must be repeatedly highlighted.
Kazi Ashik, secretary of the DU unit of Shibir, said the exhibition includes photographs, documents of oppression, mementos of the July movement, and revolutionary songs. The exhibition is scheduled to continue until 19 July.
