Don’t exploit July Uprising for political gain: Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed today (22 November) warned against using the spirit of the July Uprising for political gain, saying those who do so will inevitably face serious consequences.

"Those who speak about the spirit of July–August should remember that the Awami League has nearly vanished by acting as the sole 'contractor' of the 1971 Liberation War and trading on its spirit for political gain," he said.

Speaking at a gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar, the BNP leader also said the student-led mass uprising of 2024 was built on a long process of struggle and sacrifice and was not created overnight during 36 days of action.

He urged anyone intending to use the spirit of the 2024 uprising for political gain to remember that the spirit of the July movement belongs to all the people of Bangladesh who have fought for democracy.

"So no one should form a political party and claim sole ownership of the spirit of the July student uprising. Those who trade on such spirit for political gain never face good consequences," the BNP leader said.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal and Muktijuddher Projonmo organised the programme at the Central Shaheed Minar.

Salahuddin said the practice of Awami politics in Bangladesh has always been based on "falsehood and a lack of democracy."

Stating that the Awami League has "died in Dhaka and buried in Delhi," he said, adding, "The history of Awami politics is a history of destroying democracy and establishing fascism, one-party rule, and a one-party state. This is nothing new."

The BNP leader said Awami fascist forces were ousted through the July–August student-led uprising last year. "But the complete uprooting of the Awami fascist and mafia forces still remains to be done."

The BNP Standing Committee member also said deposed Sheikh Hasina taking shelter in India proves that the Awami League was never a "real political force" in Bangladesh.

He alleged that Sheikh Hasina, from her stay in India, continues to engage in conspiracies to destabilise Bangladesh and threaten its democracy.

"The Awami League was never a political or democratic party. Rather, it was a mafia-fascist force hiding behind the mask of democracy."

On the recent death sentence verdict against Sheikh Hasina, Salahuddin said justice has been delivered in line with public expectation and maintaining international standards by the court.

"This verdict will be implemented… Those who will govern the country in the future must understand that there is no place for dictatorship or fascism in Bangladesh. Those who destroy democracy will face this kind of consequence," he said.

Pointing at Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Salahuddin said the nation has long aspired to exercise its voting rights. "Do not stand against that aspiration, because your history is one of standing against the people's will in 1971, and again in 1947. If you now stand against the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh, the public will reject you."

Salahuddin called for the establishment of a sound democratic political culture in the country and strengthening the democratic institutions. "Through proper democratic practice, we must eliminate the legacy of the Awami League's one-party politics. If we fail to do so, the fallen fascist forces may return."