On the occasion of the glorious ‘July Martyrs’ Day, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former Member of Parliament, Professor Mia Golam Porwar issued a statement on 15 July calling upon all branches of the organization and the people of the country to remember the martyrs with deep respect and heartfelt gratitude.

In his statement, he said, “16 July, the day of the July Martyrs, is both a proud and tragic day in the nation’s history. On this day, we solemnly remember those brothers and sisters who embraced martyrdom by standing resolutely against discrimination, oppression, injustice, and tyranny, and in favor of establishing a just society and democratic rights. I pray for the forgiveness of the martyrs’ souls and express my deep sympathy to the injured and the families of the martyred and wounded.

He further stated that on 16 July 2024, during the anti-quota student movement, Abu Sayeed, a brilliant student of the English Department at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, stood bravely in front of the police as a human shield in support of their demands. At that moment, police forces unleashed by Sheikh Hasina brutally shot and killed him. As news of Abu Sayeed’s martyrdom spread, the anti-quota student movement swiftly transformed into a mass uprising across the country.

He said, “This mass uprising was a transformative moment in our history, where teachers, students, parents, youth, civil society, and professionals from all walks of life united under a common cause and took to the streets. Eventually, this student-led movement evolved into a one-point mass movement demanding the fall of the fascist autocrat Sheikh Hasina. Driven by fear of losing power, fascist ruler Sheikh Hasina ordered brutal crackdowns on the agitated student and the people. Police, RAB, army, and BGB indiscriminately opened fire, killing nearly 2,000 citizens and severely injuring around 30,000 others. Thousands of people lost limbs, eyesight, or became permanently disabled.”

He continued, “Eventually, on 5 August 2024, through a mass uprising of students and the public, the fascist rule of autocratic Sheikh Hasina—which had gripped the nation like a massive burden for over 15 and a half years—came to an end. Sheikh Hasina, along with several key leaders, ministers, and MPs of her party, fled to India and took refuge there. The people of the country gained freedom from the grip of the killer Sheikh Hasina and her government. Today, the people are able to express their opinions freely, and political parties can operate without interference. All of these are the fruits of the July mass movement.”

He said, “The July martyrs have bound the nation in an eternal debt with the fresh blood of their chests. We are forever indebted to them. We pledge that their blood shall not go in vain. We must repay this debt by building a just, democratic, humane, and equitable Bangladesh. On the occasion of the glorious ‘July Martyrs’ Day’, I earnestly call upon all branches of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the people of the country to observe the day with due honor by organizing discussion meetings and prayer program.