Mourning Day is being observed across the country today on the occasion of ‘July Martyrs’ Day’.
Marking the day, the national flag is flying at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous, and educational institutions across Bangladesh, including all government and private buildings, as well as Bangladesh missions abroad.
Special prayers are being held in mosques across the country, seeking eternal peace for the July martyrs. Similar prayers are also being offered in other religious institutions, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday, reports BSS.
Doa and munajat are being held after Zuhr prayers in all mosques nationwide, seeking divine forgiveness for the souls of those martyred during the historic July mass uprising.
The Islamic Foundation has issued a special request to all concerned—including khatibs, imams, and mosque committees—to arrange special prayers and supplications.
A special prayer and munajat will also be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque today after Zuhr prayers at 1:30pm, organised by the Islamic Foundation, a press release said.
On the occasion, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus issued a message yesterday, urging all to work together to utilise the opportunity created through the sacrifice of the July martyrs to build a new Bangladesh.
“On this day, I remember with deep respect all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the July mass uprising to free the nation from the chains of tyranny,” said the Chief Adviser.
He noted that July 16, 2024, was a remarkable day in the history of the mass uprising of students, workers, and common citizens.
On that day, he said, at least six people were martyred in Chattogram, Rangpur, and Dhaka in police firing and terrorist attacks on students who were protesting for the abolition of the discriminatory quota system.
The self-sacrifice of these fearless heroes gave strong momentum to the movement, Prof Yunus said.
He added that lakhs of students, workers, and ordinary people took to the streets across the country in protest, and the number of martyrs increased as the intensity of the movement escalated.
The anti-quota protests soon turned into an anti-government movement, he said, and the dictator eventually fled the country in the face of this fierce uprising.
“A new dawn of liberation emerged in exchange for the blood of hundreds of martyrs,” he said.
“Our July martyrs have written an epic story of heroism in the 2024 anti-dictatorship mass uprising.”
To honour the sacrifices of the martyred and injured, the interim government, after assuming office, has taken various initiatives for their welfare and that of their families, the Chief Adviser said.
To preserve their legacy, he added, the July Mass Uprising Directorate and the “July Shaheed Smriti Foundation” have been established.
The government is currently preparing a complete list of July martyrs for official gazette publication.
Each martyr’s family is being given Tk 30 lakh and a monthly allowance, he said, adding that similar support is also being provided to the injured.
The Chief Adviser said the July martyrs envisioned a state free from discrimination, corruption, and autocracy.
“Everyone must work together to make the most of the opportunity born of their sacrifice,” he said.
“Let us all move forward with determination on the path to a new Bangladesh, imbued with the spirit of July—this is our pledge today,” he concluded.
Prof Yunus also prayed for divine forgiveness and eternal peace for the souls of all who were martyred in the July uprising.