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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has described August 5 as a day of joy, victory and the restoration of democratic political rights for Bangladesh’s freedom-loving and democracy-seeking people, marking the second anniversary of the 2024 July-August mass uprising.
In a message issued on the occasion of July Mass Uprising Day, the prime minister said the popular uprising on August 5, 2024 brought an end to more than 15 years of what he termed “fascist rule” and forced the then government to flee the country, calling it a historic victory achieved through the sacrifices of students and the public.
Rahman said people from all walks of life—including students, workers, professionals, farmers, journalists, women and children—joined the movement despite widespread repression.
He claimed thousands were killed and at least 30,000 injured during the July-August uprising, while many others suffered permanent disabilities.
Paying tribute to those killed in the movement, the prime minister said the nation remains indebted to the martyrs and their families.
He stressed that the best way to honour their sacrifices is to build a democratic, just and self-reliant Bangladesh by ensuring political and economic empowerment, equality, human dignity and social justice.
Rahman also called for preserving the national unity forged through the mass uprising, saying differences of opinion are a natural part of democracy but should never lead to division or hostility.
He vowed that Bangladesh would never again allow authoritarianism, fascism or extremism to take root.
Drawing a historical parallel, he said 1971 was the war to achieve independence, while 2024 was the struggle to protect the country’s freedom and democratic rights, adding that the nation would remember the martyrs of both eras with equal respect.
