July UprisingRemitance earners Demand Official Recognition for July Sacrifice

Pic : Collected

Expatriate Bangladeshis who played a serious role in organizing simultaneous movements in various countries during the July uprising, have demanded official recognition for their contributions.
The demand was raised by the leaders of “Global Bangladeshis Alliance for Human Rights (GBAHR).” UK, the human rights alliance of the remitance earners.

The call came during the book launch ceremony of two documentary publications—“July 36: ANDOLON DESHE DESHE” (mean- July 36 movement in various countries) and “GANAOVVUTHAN 2024 : Sylhet PORBO July-August (mean- Uprising 2024, Sylhet Chapter: July-August)—held on Wednesday (August 6) evening at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum Dhaka.

Leaders of GBAHR made the demand at the event, highlighting how in abroad the Bangladeshis united to stand against fascism, organizing protests that reverberated across the world.
The two books, edited by Surma Editor and GBAHR spokesperson Shamsul Alam Liton, chronicle this global movement through narrative and visual documentation.

The chief guest, Mir Mostafizur Rahman, father of July martyr Mir Mugdho, stated,

“The July movement was not confined to the country; it spread globally with active participation from expatriates. Their contribution deserves recognition. This is also my demand.”
He added,
“We must ensure such movements never need to happen again. We must not lose sons like Abu Saeed and Mugdho.”

In his welcome speech, Shamsul Alam Liton urged the youth to prepare for future leadership, saying:

“The July uprising led by expatriate human rights organizations will now fuel a new battle to rebuild the nation. Wherever protests and resistance happened abroad, a vow was made to topple the fascist regime. We call on the government to urgently recognize the July warriors in exile.”
He added,
“Our organizations believed fascism must fall, and human rights, democracy, and voting rights will prevail.”

Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milan, Director of Edust Skill Development Institute (SDI) and former State Minister for Education, noted,

“Why did expatriates even have to demand recognition? The government must act immediately.”

At the event, the bravery of expatriate fighters during the July uprising was honored. Speakers also urged the government to grant martyr family status and address the plight of expatriates who have been victims of attacks or legal harassment.

The event was moderated by GBAHR Joint Convenor Barrister Zakir Hasan.
First-hand accounts of the movement and testimonies against the fascist regime were shared by exiled and persecuted Judge Motahar Hossain, AB Party Secretary General Barrister Fuad Abdullah, UK-based lawyer Nashit Rahman, Barrister Shibli Sadique, and software engineer Amjad Hossain.

Academic representatives from Atish Dipankar University (EDUST) also attended, including:
A M Md. Saeed, Chair of Law Department
, Dr. Ashis Kumar Bhattacharya, Chair of EEE Department, Dr. Mosharraf Hossain, Chair of Agribusiness,
Majid Ishtiaq Ahmed, Chair of Robotics and Automation
Zobayer Ahmed, Coordinator of Journalism and Media Studies
Rupom Razzak, Senior Fellow, GBAHR
Major (Retd.) A K M Zakir Hossain, educator and researcher.

The event ended with a cultural segment led by Sajed Fatemi, a communications and awareness expert, who enchanted the audience with songs including the famed NAKSHI KATHAR GAAN.