The University of Dhaka (DU) will lay the foundation stone of a ‘July Memorial Monument’ on 5 August as part of a day-long programme marking the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising, the university said in a press release.
The institution will also establish a ‘July Corner’ at its Central Library, hold a discussion at the Teacher-Student Centre auditorium and screen documentaries across the campus, alongside events organised by its halls, departments and institutes between 26 July and 3 August.
The July Corner will preserve clothing and other belongings used by those martyred during the movement, as well as video footage, photographs and related materials.
A preparatory meeting was held on Monday, 27 July, at the Professor Abdul Matin Chowdhury Virtual Classroom to review arrangements and the progress of sub-committees responsible for the 5 August programmes.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam chaired the meeting.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education Prof Dr Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Administration Prof Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, Treasurer Prof Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, faculty deans, residential hall provosts, the Proctor, the Acting Registrar, office heads, and sub-committee conveners and members attended.
The meeting sought cooperation from all concerned to implement the programmes successfully.
The discussion at the TSC auditorium will begin at 11:00am on 5 August. A Milad and doa mahfil will be held after Asr prayers at the university’s central mosque, Masjidul Jamia.
Displays will be installed at several points across the campus to screen documentaries on the July movement. Students, teachers, officers and employees involved in the movement will also be recognised after their participation is verified through appropriate evidence.
The university has begun cleaning walls carrying graffiti from the July movement before repainting the artworks for preservation. It is also preparing a commemorative publication based on the experiences of students, teachers, officers and employees involved in the movement.
Shamsunnahar Hall held a programme titled ‘Smritite July’, or ‘July in Memory’, at its auditorium on Sunday evening, 26 July.
The programme featured a quiz competition on the July Mass Uprising, a documentary screening, recollections, poetry recitation, a dance performance and a prize-giving ceremony.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam attended as chief guest, while Hall Provost Prof Dr Nasrin Sultana presided.
Hall Parliament Vice-President Kurratul Ain Kaniz and General Secretary Samia Masud Mom spoke at the event.
A documentary highlighting the participation of the hall’s students in the uprising was screened. Niyon Moni, Seema Akter and Asha Talukder shared their experiences of participating in the movement.
Eratfa Binte Redwan and Zarin Tasnim Bipa recited poetry, while Naoshin Tasnim Bandhan performed a dance. Samia Masud Mom and Zarin Tasnim Bipa conducted the programme, which was attended by residential teachers and students.
The Vice-Chancellor said the new Bangladesh achieved through the blood of those martyred in the uprising must be built as a discrimination-free and justice-based country.
He said the university had taken several steps to preserve the memory of the July revolution, including waiving tuition fees for injured students, preserving graffiti and constructing the memorial monument.
He sought cooperation to turn the University of Dhaka into a world-class educational institution and highlighted progress in building new halls to address the accommodation shortage facing female students.
The Department of Linguistics held the prize-giving ceremony for an essay competition titled ‘July in the Minds of Youth’ on Monday afternoon, 27 July.
Department Chair Prof Dr Monira Begum presided over the programme, while International Mother Language Institute Director Prof Dr Muhammad Asaduzzaman attended as chief guest and distributed the prizes.
Asma Akter won first prize, Miznat Noor Sylvy placed second and Sanjida Sultana Diba finished third.
The Department of Information Science and Library Management will hold a discussion titled ‘The July Mass Uprising in Memory’ at noon on Tuesday, 28 July, in Room 1007 of the Arts Building.
Department Chairman Prof Dr Md Rokonuzzaman will preside over the event. Faculty of Arts Dean Prof Dr Md Abul Kalam Sarker will attend as chief guest, while Prof Dr Md Saiful Islam will present the keynote paper.
The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences will hold a discussion titled ‘The July Mass Uprising and a Discrimination-Free Education System’ at 9:00am on Thursday, 30 July.
The event will take place at the RI Khan Auditorium of the Department of Geography and Environment.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education Prof Dr Abdus Salam will attend as chief guest, while Department of Geography and Environment Professor Mohammad Safi Ullah will take part as a discussant.
The Department of Clinical Psychology will organise a discussion titled ‘Looking Back at July 2024’ at 10:00am on Tuesday, 28 July, at the Nasirullah Foundation Conference Hall.
Department Chairman Dr Shahanur Hossain will preside. Faculty of Biological Sciences Dean Prof Dr Md Abdul Karim will attend as chief guest, while IUBAT Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Mahmudur Rahman will be present as guest of honour.
Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall will hold an impromptu essay competition and a special parliamentary debate based on the July Revolution at 6:00pm on 29 July.
A special prayer for the eternal peace of the July martyrs will be offered at the hall mosque at 7:00pm.
A discussion titled ‘Living July in Memory and Awakening’ will follow at the hall auditorium at 7:30pm.
The Department of English will hold a seminar titled ‘July Commemoration Programme’ on 30 July in Room 2080 of the Arts Building.
Department Chair Prof Dr Tazin Aziz Chaudhury, along with teachers and students, will attend the event.
The Institute of Social Welfare and Research will organise a seminar, discussion and commemorative programme titled ‘The July Mass Uprising in Our Consciousness: Responsibility and Our Role’ at 10:00am on 3 August.
The programme will be held at the institute auditorium, with Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam attending as chief guest.
