Bangladesh to mark July Mass Uprising Day Wednesday

Bangladesh will observe July Mass Uprising Day on Wednesday (5 August) with nationwide programmes to commemorate the student-led mass uprising that culminated in the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024. 

The day will be observed with state ceremonies, political programmes and tributes to those killed and injured during the uprising.

On 26 June 26 2025, the government declared 5 August as July Mass Uprising Day. The day is a public holiday.

According to an official notification, the minister, state minister, secretary, officials and employees of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, along with people from different walks of life, will place wreaths at the July Martyrs' Memorial at Shahbagh in Dhaka at 6:01am.

Later, at 12:00pm, a reception will be accorded to the families of the July martyrs and the July fighters at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad will attend the function as the chief guest, where the significance of the day will also be highlighted through a discussion.

Meanwhile, acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman issued separate messages on the occasion of July Mass Uprising Day.

In his message, Hafiz Uddin extended his heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the valiant July warriors and all patriotic citizens of the country, saying the nation will forever remember their extraordinary sacrifices, boundless courage and outstanding contributions as an enduring source of inspiration.

He also called for upholding the dignity of the martyrs' sacrifices, building a humane Bangladesh that belongs to the people, where fascist and authoritarian rule, as well as extremism, will never again find a place.

The acting President also urged all to unite in building a new Bangladesh that is democratic, just, humane, free from discrimination, happy and prosperous and work together to realise the dreams, ideals, hopes and aspirations of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War of Independence and the July Mass Uprising.

In his message, the Prime Minister described 5 August as a day of joy, a day of victory and a day of the restoration of democratic political rights for all those who cherish freedom and democracy.

He said for more than one and a half decades, in the struggle against fascism and for the restoration of the people's right to vote and their democratic rights, the BNP, other anti-fascist political parties, and the people of differing views had to endure limitless persecution and repression.

Tarique Rahman said countless people became victims of enforced disappearance, murder, abduction, assaults, false cases, torture and oppression. "In leading this movement, the uncompromising leader of the nation, former Prime Minister late Begum Khaleda Zia was also forced to spend years in the prison of the oppressors on false charges."

He remembered with profound respect all the martyrs. "By sacrificing their lives for the freedom, rights and dignity of the country and its people, they have left us in their debt. Bangladesh owes an enduring debt to every martyr's family. Now it is our turn to repay that debt."

The Prime Minister urged all to make a pledge to honour that debt through sincere efforts to build a just, self-reliant, democratic and humane Bangladesh by ensuring the political and economic empowerment of people and by establishing equality, human dignity and social justice. 

He also called for preserving the unprecedented national unity forged on the blood-soaked streets sanctified by the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs at all costs. "We will have differences of opinion on many issues and that is the beauty of democracy. But we must all remain vigilant to ensure that differences of thought and opinion never descend into hostility. Every political party, individual and group that stands on the side of democracy shares this responsibility."

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken extensive and multi-layered security measures to maintain law and order and ensure public safety in the capital ahead of July Mass Uprising Day.

The measures have been taken to prevent any act of sabotage, untoward incident or disruption to public safety during the observance of the day, according to a DMP statement issued on Tuesday (4 August).

As part of the security plan, the number of police patrols and checkpoints has been significantly increased across the capital, with stricter search operations at all entry points to Dhaka.

Detective Branch (DB) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) personnel in plain clothes will remain deployed at all important venues.

Special sweeping operations will also be conducted by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, Bomb Disposal Unit and Dog Squad Unit at places expected to witness large public gatherings.

The DMP said all programme venues and the July Memorial Monument area have been brought under a special security arrangement, including surveillance through CCTV cameras and drones.

At the same time, intelligence activities by the Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau (CTSB) and Intelligence Analysis Division (IAD) in plain clothes will continue, while an adequate number of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will remain on standby to respond to any emergency.

In addition to the regular deployment, extra DMP personnel, along with members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), will remain active across the capital to ensure overall security.

Senior police officials will also remain in the field to directly supervise security arrangements throughout the day, the statement added.