The government is giving space to narratives against the July mass uprising, Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam said today.
"It is unfortunate that those in this government who were once our comrades are, in one way or another, giving space to these narratives. They are also making room for those in the media and have slowed down the trial process," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled "From Resistance to Victory: Legacy of July" at the Siraj Convention Centre in Aftabnagar, Dhaka.
The programme was organised by the Combined Private University Unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti.
He claimed that disparaging remarks and propaganda on social media about the July mass uprising were "planned" and alleged that both domestic and foreign forces were involved.
Alleging that educational institutions were once again becoming "havens for violence", Nahid said attempts were being made to seize control of campuses and residential halls to establish dominance.
He also referred to attacks on elected student union leaders at Jagannath University and activists of Chhatra Shakti.
Addressing the government, he said, "Learn from the past. July is not yet in the past; July is the present. In particular, do not seek confrontation with the student community. Let students pursue their studies and allow a healthy political culture to develop at universities."
Describing the role of private university students in the July Uprising, Nahid said there had been fears that the movement would lose momentum after Dhaka University and other public universities were closed on July 17, 2024. However, from the following day, private university students took to the streets in Dhaka and elsewhere across the country and carried the movement forward.
Nahid said around 26 private university students were killed and 59 others injured during the uprising. He called for the history of their sacrifices to be preserved and properly documented.
He said the July 2024 Uprising was the culmination of several movements over the previous decade, including the 2013 Shapla movement, the anti-VAT movement, and the 2018 quota reform and road safety movements.
Referring to the government's employment pledges, Nahid said young people would monitor how far those promises were being fulfilled.
Without job creation, he said, the economic security of the large number of students at public and private universities could not be ensured.
Nahid also urged students to continue protesting against any injustice to protect the country's independence, sovereignty and democracy.
