The newly elected committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) has formally launched its activities with a renewed call for the “July Declaration” and the “July Charter.” Rifat Rashid has been named as the new president of the organisation.
The announcement came at a press conference held Tuesday noon at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
In his speech, President Rifat Rashid said the July-August 2024 student-led uprising, spearheaded by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, marked a turning point in the country’s political history.
He noted that the single-point demand declared on 3 August at Shaheed Minar was not merely about regime change, but also about dismantling fascism and building a new democratic state. “The uprising laid the historical foundation for ‘Bangladesh 2.0,’” he said.
Rashid also read out a draft manifesto outlining key demands, including the official issuance of the “July Declaration” and the “July Charter.” He stressed that there can be no election without prior reforms, saying, “Anyone seeking elections without reforms is betraying the blood of the student masses. We will resist them.”
Addressing political parties, he urged them to abandon their zero-sum mentality. “Move beyond the belief that only your views are right and others are wrong. Return to the point where collective interest is forged.”
The manifesto further stated, “The July 2024 student uprising has shown how a united student body can resist repressive education and administrative systems.”
Rashid said the document remains a draft and will be finalised with input from student groups, educators, and citizens in the coming days.
To strengthen the movement’s organisational structure, three specialised committees have been formed.
The Liaison Committee, led by the president, will work to build national unity among participants of the July uprising, anti-fascist forces, political parties, student organisations, and July-based platforms.
A Financial Audit Committee, led by the general secretary, has been formed to ensure transparency. It will publish a white paper within 15 working days. Until then, all unit-level organisational activities will remain suspended.
The July Commemoration Committee, headed by the organisational secretary, will observe remembrance events for the martyrs of the July uprising and celebrate the retreat of fascist forces throughout the month.
Also present at the press conference were newly elected General Secretary Md Inamul Hasan, Organisational Secretary Muinul Islam, and spokesperson Cynthia Jaheen Ayesha.