Bangladesh is observing “July Mass Uprising Day” on Wednesday, marking two years since the fall of the Awami League government amid a student‑led uprising that reshaped the nation’s political landscape.
Government bodies, political parties and socio‑cultural organisations have arranged programmes to honour the sacrifices of students and others who took to the streets against misrule and autocracy.
Events include wreath‑laying, processions, discussions, cultural performances and commemorations nationwide on the occasion of the day.
Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman issued separate messages.
Ministers, state ministers, secretaries along with people from different walks of life, placed wreaths at the July Martyrs’ Memorial in Shahbagh in the morning.
At noon, a reception will be accorded to the families of the July martyrs and the July fighters at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital. Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad will attend the function as the chief guest.
Dhaka University is also observing the 2nd anniversary of the July Mass Uprising with a series of programmes, including the foundation-laying of a July Memorial and a dedicated July Corner in the university’s Central Library, reports UNB.
A discussion on the July uprising will be held at the TSC where five families of the July martyrs will be honoured, and a prayer session will be held after Asr prayers at the Central Mosque, seeking eternal peace for the martyrs.
Bangladesh missions abroad also chalked out discussion programmes on the occasion. Religious institutions across the country are organising special munajat and prayers.
Meanwhile, acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman issued separate messages on the occasion of July Mass Uprising Day.
In his message, Hafiz Uddin extended his heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the valiant July warriors and all patriotic citizens of the country, saying the nation will forever remember their extraordinary sacrifices, boundless courage and outstanding contributions as an enduring source of inspiration.
He also called for upholding the dignity of the martyrs’ sacrifices, building a humane Bangladesh that belongs to the people, where fascist and authoritarian rule, as well as extremism, will never again find a place.
The acting president urged all to unite in building a new Bangladesh that is democratic, just, humane, free from discrimination, happy and prosperous and work together to realise the dreams, ideals, hopes and aspirations of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in the 1971 Liberation War and the July Mass Uprising.
In his message, the prime minister described 5 August as a day of joy, a day of victory and a day of the restoration of democratic political rights for all those who cherish freedom and democracy.
He said for more than one and a half decades, in the struggle against fascism and for the restoration of the people’s right to vote and their democratic rights, the BNP, other anti-fascist political parties, and the people of differing views had to endure limitless persecution and repression.
Tarique said countless people became victims of enforced disappearance, murder, abduction, assaults, false cases, torture and oppression.
“In leading this movement, the uncompromising leader of the nation, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, was also forced to spend years in prison of the oppressors on false charges,” he said.
“By sacrificing their lives for the freedom, rights and dignity of the country and its people, they have left us in their debt. Bangladesh owes an enduring debt to every martyr’s family. Now it is our turn to repay that debt.”
The premier urged all to make a pledge to honour that debt through sincere efforts to build a just, self-reliant, democratic and humane Bangladesh by ensuring the political and economic empowerment of people and by establishing equality, human dignity and social justice.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken extensive and multi-layered security measures to maintain law and order and ensure public safety in the capital ahead of July Mass Uprising Day.
The measures have been taken to prevent any act of sabotage, untoward incident or disruption to public safety during the observance of the day, according to a DMP statement issued on Tuesday.
As part of the security plan, the number of police patrols and checkpoints has been significantly increased across the capital, with stricter search operations at all entry points to Dhaka.
On 26 June 2025, the interim government declared 5 August as July Mass Uprising Day. The day is a public holiday.
