BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has announced that the July 2024 student-led mass uprising will receive full state and constitutional recognition if the BNP comes to power. He made this declaration on Tuesday evening while speaking at a discussion titled “The Turning Point of the Uprising” organized by the BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, at the TSC Auditorium of Dhaka University.
“Once BNP assumes power, the student-people uprising of July will be officially recognized. It will be enshrined in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. Its legitimacy will be upheld under Article 106, and the interim government will also be granted constitutional recognition,” said Salahuddin, emphasizing the necessity of giving the movement proper legal and national stature.
He stressed that while ordinances and constitutions usually have effective dates, declarations of this nature do not require a fixed start date. “What matters is the dignity and the constitutional recognition of the uprising so that no future regime can label any participant of the July movement as illegal or unconstitutional.”
Drawing historical parallels, Salahuddin stated, “July didn’t come in a day. Just like the 23 years of exploitation under Pakistani military rule led to the 1971 Liberation War, and the 9 years of anti-autocracy struggle in the 1980s culminated in the 1990 student uprising, the movement of 2024 was born from 17 years of resistance. A fascist regime cannot be toppled in just 36 days.”
The BNP leader also voiced concern over the sluggish progress of the ongoing reform commission tasked with drafting the “July Charter,” which was expected to be completed by August 5. “Given their current pace, I’m doubtful they will meet the deadline. Still, I remain hopeful,” he said.
Other speakers at the event included BNP’s Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul, Jabir Islam Jubel from Biplobi Chhatra Moitri, Mahbubur Rahman Nahiyan from Islami Chhatra Andolon, and Saikat Arif from Bangladesh Students Federation.
