The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has strongly condemned and protested the attack on July fighters who were campaigning for the legal recognition of the July Charter and other demands. The organization also accused certain political parties of committing a grave betrayal by signing the charter while excluding key stakeholders of the July movement, particularly the students and people involved.
In a statement issued on Friday (October 17) by Shahadat Hossain, the office secretary of the movement, these concerns were raised.
Earlier that day, the ‘July National Charter 2025’ was signed at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, organized by the National Consensus Commission. The event was attended by various political leaders, including Professor Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to the caretaker government.
In a joint statement, Rifaat Rashid, central president, and Hasan Inam, general secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement said,
“It is deeply troubling that before the charter signing ceremony began, law enforcement agencies attacked July fighters who were peacefully protesting under the banner of ‘July Martyrs’ Families and Injured Fighters’ for the legal recognition of the charter and other legitimate demands. Twenty-seven people, including July fighter Atikul Gazi, were seriously injured. There have also been allegations of misconduct by members of the National Consensus Commission towards the July fighters. We strongly condemn this disgraceful act.”
They added,
“The bloodshed of thousands of July student activists and fighters in 2024 brought about a fascism-free new Bangladesh. The July Charter, built on that sacrifice, is a landmark document for state reform. Attacking these fighters before the signing event is not only condemnable but also a betrayal of the July movement’s sacrifices and a sign of the caretaker government’s failure.”
The statement further criticized the signing event for failing to properly include members of the martyrs’ families, injured fighters, and student representatives. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement views the exclusion of key July stakeholders under the guise of national consensus as a severe betrayal of the July student movement.
The movement urged the caretaker government to
“immediately sit down with the martyrs’ families, injured fighters, student representatives, and all relevant stakeholders to reach an acceptable resolution regarding the legal recognition of the July Charter and the issues surrounding the ‘Note of Dissent.’”
