Manik Mia Avenue abuzz with music and colours as July Uprising Day marks one year of Hasina's fall
The July Declaration will formally recognise the 2024 student-people uprising and the shift away from authoritarian rule to democratic renewal
The Manik Mia Avenue in the capital has transformed into a vibrant hub of remembrance and resolve as thousands gather to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising that led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
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Dubbed the "36 July Celebration," the day-long programme began this afternoon with musical performances and is set to continue into the night with cultural events, a drone show, and the much-anticipated reading of the July Declaration.
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Organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the event is being observed across Dhaka with a mix of reflection and festivity. From students to activists, artists to political leaders – people from all walks of life have come together to honour the spirit of the mass movement that reshaped the nation's political landscape just a year ago.
The crowd, waving flags and chanting slogans, demanded justice for crimes committed during the uprising, including calls for constitutional reforms and delays to elections until credible reforms are ensured.
Music, lights, and unity
A full day of music and performance unfolded as festivities began at 11am, kicking off with a set from Saimum Shilpigoshthi, followed by Kolorob Shilpigoshthi and solo performances by Nahid Hasan and Tashfi. After a short prayer break, the energy surged with Chittagong Hip Hop Hood, Shezan, and popular band Shunno.
A dramatic reenactment titled "Fascist's Flight" of Hasina fleeing, featuring a staged helicopter flight with helicopter-shaped balloons, drew large crowds there.
Organisers staged the performance at 2:25pm, while onlookers chanted slogans denouncing the former premier.
Performances continued with Shayan, Ethun Babu and Moushumi, followed by iconic rock bands Souls and Warfaze.
One of the day's main attractions, a drone drama, is scheduled for 7:30pm. Elita Karim and Artcell are set to headline the night performances, with Artcell returning to the stage at 8pm.
Organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and managed by the Shilpakala Academy, the open-to-all programme blends art, remembrance, bringing together music lovers and citizens in a celebration of freedom and solidarity.
The highlight of the day will take place at 5:00pm, when Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus reads out the July Declaration at the South Plaza of the Parliament.
The moment will be broadcast live by Bangladesh Television (BTV), symbolising a new chapter in the country's journey toward justice and reform.
"This day is about hope," said a university student attending the event. "We came through a mass movement. One year later, we're here to celebrate our unity and demand a Bangladesh where everyone is safe and respected."
Security has been visibly tight in and around the event grounds. Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Ibn Mizan confirmed that a significant police presence, including plainclothes officers and intelligence units, has been deployed to ensure the safety of participants.
The day's celebrations are also part of a broader wave of political and cultural mobilisation. Looking ahead, a public concert organised by the new platform "Sobar Agay Bangladesh" ("Bangladesh Before All") is scheduled for 16 December, Victory Day, at the same venue.
BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, the convener of the group, announced the event at a press conference earlier this week.
'Where tyranny will never rise'
The day's events will centre on the reading of the July Declaration, which has been widely publicised as a roadmap for democratic reforms. This document aims to formalise the nation's political journey, which began with the uprising sparked by public grievances over economic issues and repression and has since transitioned to governance by an interim government under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, reports Reuters.
"Together, we will build a Bangladesh where tyranny will never rise again," Yunus said in a message to the nation a year after protests forced Hasina to flee to neighbouring India, as he paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives.
A peaceful, fair, and transparent election could be held early next year, Yunus said, pledging a return to full democratic rule at a time of mounting pressure for a swifter transition amid growing labour unrest.
The interim government had launched sweeping reforms, he added, while trials for those responsible for the "July killings" were progressing swiftly.
Police were on high alert throughout the capital, with armoured vehicles patrolling the streets to deter any attempt by Hasina's banned Awami League to disrupt the day's events.
"Fallen autocrats and their self-serving allies remain active," however, he added, urging unity to protect the gains of the uprising while his government holds reform talks with political parties and civil society.
On 3 August, a Facebook post from the chief adviser's verified page described how the entire nation came together through the blood of many martyrs and the dedication of countless fighters, creating a surge of emotion and national pride.
An event, titled the "36 July Celebration," is designed to honour the legacy of the movement that led to the toppling of the Awami League government. The event is an open invitation for all citizens to come and partake in this significant moment in the country's history.
The entire programme is set to be a full day of diverse cultural and commemorative events.
The July Declaration, to be announced later in the day by Muhammad Yunus, will formally recognise the 2024 student-led uprising and the shift away from authoritarian rule to democratic renewal.
Despite some opposition, it is backed by major political groups, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Supporters see the charter as a foundation for institutional reform, but critics have warned its impact could be largely symbolic in the absence of a legal framework or parliamentary consensus.
Day's events
The morning session at Manik Mia Avenue is scheduled to feature acts such as "Tong er gaan," followed by presentations from Saimum Shilpigoshthi at 11:20am and Kolorob Shilpigoshthi at 11:40am. Solo deliveries by Nahid and Tashfee will lead up to the Duhr Prayer break at 1:00pm.
The afternoon will continue with a mix of musical performances and commemorative events.
At 1:10pm, the stage will host the Chittagong Hip-Hop Hood, followed by a performance from Sezan at 1:30pm. The band Shunno will take the stage at 2pm, and a special segment celebrating the "Fascist's Flight" is scheduled for 2:25pm.
The musical lineup will continue with Shayan at 2:40pm and the duo of Ethun Babu and Moushumi at 3pm.
The rock bands Souls and Warfaze will perform at 3:30pm and 4pm, respectively, leading into the Asr Prayer break at 4:45pm.
The historic reading
The pinnacle of the day's events will take place at 5pm with the Reading of the Historic July Declaration.
This is the moment when the public will hear the full details of the document that is set to shape the nation's future. Following the reading, musical performances will resume, featuring the Basic Guitar Learning School, F Minor, and Parsha, before the Maghrib Prayer break at 6:50pm.
The evening will conclude with a grand finale of performances and a special show.
Elita Karim will perform at 7pm, and a unique drone drama titled "Do You Miss Me?" will be showcased from 7:30pm to 8pm. The celebration will draw to a close with a concert by the iconic band Artcell at 8pm.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) issued a traffic advisory for city residents yesterday (August 4) ahead of 'July Uprising Day'.
BNP will hold victory rallies in all Upazilas and areas under local police stations today and in all districts and metropolitan cities across the country on Wednesday, marking the first anniversary of the fall of fascism and the victory of students and the masses in the July Uprising.
Earlier on 26 June, the BNP announced a 36-day-long programme titled 'July-August Uprising: Mourning and Victory Observance' to mark the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising, which led to the ousting of autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina from power.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages ahead of the day.
Yesterday, the president said the fascist roots must be uprooted and the spirit of July be fully realised to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh.
"The July Uprising was an outburst of the youth and the masses against longstanding deprivation, misrule, corruption, looting, enforced disappearances, killings, abductions, the denial of voting rights and all forms of oppression and tyranny," said President Mohammed Shahabuddin in a message marking the July Uprising Day.
