The Center for Peace Studies (CPS) at the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), North South University, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the students and the people of Bangladesh for their inexhaustible courage, resilience, and dedication during the legendary July Revolution of 2024. The revolution speaks boldly of the power of collective action in the face of violence and repression, emphasizing the youth's spirited stand for justice, democracy, human rights, and equal opportunity. Through their ironclad determination and supreme sacrifices, the youth have added a new episode in Bangladesh's history: a triumph of the students and the people, a testament to their enduring and inexhaustible spirit.
The faculty members of the Center for Peace Studies at the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance, North South University, stand in solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives during this historic mass upheaval. We deeply mourn the untimely demise of the students and citizens who became martyrs for the cause of justice and equality. Their lives were taken unjustly, and their sacrifices will not be forgotten. We, hereby, urge the government to launch a judicial investigation into the brutal actions of the repressive government, the politicized police and security forces, and all parties responsible for the atrocities committed during the protests. The individuals who strategized, ordered, and executed these violent attacks must be held accountable. We urge the interim government to initiate legal actions against the culprits without delay.
The wounds inflicted during the July Revolution run deep emotionally and physically. The then regime's response to peaceful protests with brutal violence, including student deaths, injuries, and mass arrests, converted students and the general public from mere Protesters into fearless Revolutionaries. Such a paradigm shifted the motive of the protest movement, from a specific policy (job quota) change to an outright demand for regime reforms and state reconstruction, but not without trauma and affliction. Hence, we call upon the pertinent authorities to step forward for these individuals to ensure they receive proper medical care, rehabilitation services, and other necessary assistance they require to recover.
In addition to those injured, the families of the martyrs and those who suffered during the protests must be given the support and resources needed to rebuild their lives. Many families have lost their sole breadwinners and are now left to grapple with the emotional and financial consequences of these tragic events. We, therefore, call upon the government to establish a comprehensive rehabilitation program that provides financial assistance, psychological counseling, legal aid, social security, and other required support to ensure these families move forward with dignity.
Per reports, about 757 people died (between July 16 and August 23) while voicing their support for meaningful political change. Though some heroes got nationwide acclaim, many of the deceased remain unrecognized and unsung, having not been adequately acknowledged. We strongly demand that the authorities initiate Public Recognition and Memorialization for all the heroes who untimely laid down their promising lives to bring an oppressive regime down to its knees.
Freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to dissent must be respected as fundamental rights of every citizen of Bangladesh and therefore of all students. On that note, we urge the interim government to revamp educational institutions into spaces where young minds and faculties can engage in critical thinking, debate, and activism free of violence, repression or insecurity, and protected in their unfettered right to freedom of expression.
The National 'July' Uprising was driven by the demand for an inclusive, non-discriminatory, and just society. Through their protests, the students have initiated the first step to building this society, a step that resonates with the long-cherished expectations of Gen Z. We would like the government and civil society to unite in building a Bangladesh where all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or cultural origins, political background and ideological beliefs or creeds, have equal opportunities and are treated with respect and dignity.
We recommend the government implement effective measures that protect citizens' fundamental freedoms, guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and protest, hold the police and security forces accountable for their unlawful and anti-people actions, and foster dialogues between civil society and the state.