Former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, in a statement marking July Uprising Day, described July as an important chapter in the people’s struggle for rights, justice and democratic aspirations.
The statement, issued for 5 August, honored with deep respect those who sacrificed their lives in the July uprising and expressed gratitude to the wounded, including those who lost eyesight or became disabled.
Yunus said the 36-day movement reminded the nation of how powerfully it had united against injustice.
He said July belonged to people of every class and profession, from school, college, madrasa and university students to teachers, guardians, journalists, photographers, politicians, civil society representatives, writers, artists and cultural workers.
Yunus also noted the roles of rickshaw pullers, laborers and professionals, adding that doctors worked in risky, war-like conditions to save the wounded and that Bangladeshis abroad supported the movement.
He highlighted women’s courage during the uprising, saying it would inspire generations of women, and described students’ leadership as an enduring inspiration for young people.
Drawing lessons from the uprising, Yunus said that when all sections of society unite they can change even structures that seemed impenetrable, and he called for firm national resolve to sustain democratic, economic and social progress.