Despite a concerted effort to eliminate discrimination, it has not been abolished in the state, lamented Abu Hossain, the elder brother of Abu Sayed, who was martyred during the July Uprising in 2024.
On Tuesday morning, the National Citizen Party's month-long national programme to mark the anniversary of the July Uprising, named "July March to Build the Nation", kicked off at the home of Abu Sayed in Pirganj.
Sayed, a 23-year-old student from Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, was slain by bullets fired by police, as stated by the UN Human Rights Office in a fact-finding report. His was the first reported death of the July Revolution.
His older brother made the following remarks to Dhaka Stream during the event.
Hossain believed "there has been drama surrounding July 16", citing the decision to not enshrine Abu Sayed's name to commemorate July 16.
On June 25, the Cabinet Division officially declared July 16 as 'Shaheed Abu Sayed Day'. However, four days later, at an advisers' council meeting, it was decided that July 16 would instead be commemorated as 'July Shaheed Day'.
"We've seen days declared for many people who haven't contributed a single penny to the nation. Their names were used to memorialise days. So, what was the problem with proclaiming July 16 as Martyr Abu Sayed Day?," Hossain asked.
"If the government had [originally] proclaimed that July 16 would be honoured as 'July Martyrs' Day,' we would have had fewer concerns.
"However, changing the name after it was declared is an insult to a martyr. On behalf of the martyr's family, we condemn and denounce this. They couldn't even choose a day to honour someone whose inspiration will endure for generations!"
Hossain repeated the demand that July 16 be observed as "Martyr Abu Sayed Day", saying, "July 16 was Martyr Abu Sayed Day and we want it to be recognised as such.
"The government may commemorate a general July Martyrs' Day any other day in July. But we cannot tolerate such disregard for someone whose sacrifice inspired a revolution, especially as members of his family."
Hossain also reiterated that, despite continued efforts to remove inequity, discrimination is entrenched in the state.
"The government's advisory council is made up of only members from a specific region. Abu Saeed's martyrdom in Rangpur sparked the July uprising, but not a single adviser came from the Rangpur division."
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