Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker from Mymensingh-10 constituency Mohammed Akteruzzaman on Thursday alleged that some individuals were selling the spirit of July for personal gain, while claiming to have shifted from modest means to luxury lifestyles.

He made the remarks while taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget for the financial year 2026–27 during the 15th sitting of the second session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.

The session, which began at 11:00am, was chaired by speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

‘Many people sell the spirit of July. Some used to travel by rickshaws, and now they travel in prado cars while selling the spirit of July,’ Akteruzzaman said.

‘We have fought the July struggle. I myself was involved, and many here were part of it, including our children. But many are now commercialising the spirit of July,’ the ruling party lawmaker said.

Akteruzzaman said that the BNP did not sell the spirit of July uprising but upheld it, adding that it was not something to be commercialised.

‘I request those who sell the spirit of July to show the nation how they have changed, where they used to live and where they live now. A simple live broadcast would let the nation see the transformation,’ he said.

The lawmaker said that the July spirit should not be used to replace or overshadow the country’s independence.

‘We do not want to erase the history of independence with the July Mass Uprising spirit. We hold independence in our hearts, and we also hold July in our hearts,’ Akteruzzaman said.

The student-led mass uprising led to the ouster of the fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.