Announce state reformation roadmap immediately: Students at Shaheedi March

The Anti-Discrimination Students Movement today (5 September) announced a five-point demand, including the immediate announcement of the roadmap for state reformation by the interim government.

Abu Baker Majumdar, one of the coordinators of Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, announced their demands before concluding the Shaheedi March at Central Shaheed Minar this evening.

Their other demands include declaring the 'Ganabhaban' (the resident of the prime minister) as the 'July-Memorial Museum', arresting all the culprits who were involved in committing genocide, providing economic and legal support to the families of the victims as soon as possible, identifying the corrupted and fascist in the administrative sectors, and bringing them to the justice.

Also speaking at the march, student movement coordinator Sarjis Alam said, "We will not let the blood and sacrifices of the martyrs go in vain. There are still many fascists, and we want to send a clear message to them: do not attempt to act in a fascistic manner in this independent Bangladesh. There will be no place for extortionists or syndicates in our country."

He further said, "We are ready to shed our own blood at any time to honour the sacrifices made by our brothers who gave their lives for this freedom."

Students from various schools, colleges, and universities in Dhaka joined the march, which passed through Nilkhet, New Market, Kalabagan, Mirpur Road, Manik Mia Avenue, the National Parliament, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, and Raju Sculpture before ending at the Central Shaheed Minar.

During the event, students chanted slogans like "Abu Sayed, Mugdho, The war hasn't ended," "In remembrance of the martyred, we don't fear death," and "Blood of the martyrs is our power."

Rakib Hasan, an eighth-grade student from University Laboratory School and College, said, "No one at home stopped me from joining the march today. Before, my parents would forbid me from going out. I'm happy to participate freely now, but the grief for our martyred brothers will never be forgotten."

Asad Haque, a Political Science student at Dhaka University, said, "Our goal today is to end the murderous autocratic regime and honour the martyrs. Their blood will continue to inspire our journey."

In the evening, Abu Bakar Majumdar, a coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, announced five demands at the Central Shaheed Minar. These include declaring Ganabhaban as a July Memorial Museum, promptly arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators of genocide, providing timely support to the families of the martyrs, identifying and prosecuting corrupt collaborators in the administration, and quickly announcing a roadmap for restructuring the state. 

In addition, Shaheedi Marches took place in cities and towns across the country. Participants included students from public and private universities, schools, and madrasas, as well as families of the martyrs, professionals, workers, and ordinary people.

During the marches, students carried the Bangladeshi and Palestinian flags, pictures of martyrs, and banners demanding justice for the killers.

In Dhaka, the four-hour Shaheedi March, involving millions of students and citizens, led to a major traffic standstill. Similar traffic congestion was reported at key intersections in various cities due to the student rallies and marches.

Return to classrooms, campuses: Chief Adviser urges students

Following the commemorations, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus urged students to return to their classrooms and campuses. In a statement marking the one-month anniversary of Hasina regime's fall, he stressed the need for a well-educated and competent generation to reap the benefits of the revolution, reports UNB.

"Now it's time to go back to study.  Schools, colleges and universities have been opened. I urge you to return to the classrooms and campuses. Because, we need a well-educated and skilled generation to take home the benefits of the revolution," he said.

"Today we are celebrating the first month of Bangladesh's second independence. Hundreds of students and people from all walks of life made the supreme sacrifice for one of the most glorious revolutions in history," he added.

Pointing at the students, he said during the revolution, they had to leave study and pass sleepless nights worrying about their friends, and take to streets in daytime to resist the brutal regime, telling each other goodbye forever.

Prof Yunus said the students guarded the religious minority communities and their places of worship as well as took the responsibility of managing traffic across the country after the revolution ended. "I know your study witnessed a huge disruption," he added.

Noting that Sheikh Hasina fled the country leaving behind a corrupt state and a fragile economy, Prof Yunus said, "We've taken the responsibility to establish our Bangladesh in its full glory."

"Our first task is to ensure justice and accountability for the killings occurred in July and August," he said adding that they invited the UN Human Rights Office to conduct an independent and impartial inquiry into the genocide and the UNHR also sent it team to Bangladesh and started work in this regard.

Besides, he talked to top international legal experts to form an international standard tribunal to try the people who committed crimes against humanity in July and August, said Prof Yunus.

"We want the extradition of the killers and the repatriation of the money embezzled by corrupt individuals, politicians and bureaucrats during the regime of the dictator. This is why I've started talking with expert firms," he said.

He said one of their main responsibilities is to ensure free treatment for thousands of people who sustained seriously injured during the revolution.

"We're continuously working to prepare a complete list of martyrs and injured. The main list has already been prepared," he said, adding that now only the information of those whose dead bodies were taken far away is being collected.

The chief adviser said the formation of a foundation is in the final stages to look after the hundreds of injured people who need long-term treatment or expensive treatment and oversee the families of the martyrs.

Talking about important reform initiatives, Prof Yunus said the government is regularly holding talks with political parties, editors, business leaders, civil society leaders and diplomats. "They supported our reform initiatives.

"We're impressed by the overwhelming support from our foreign friends. Our brave and patriotic expatriates are also engaged in efforts to rebuild the nation," he said, extending his sincere thanks to them.

Expressing deep gratitude to the families of martyrs and injured persons, he said he would invite the family members of every martyr and meet them within a few days. "I want to assure them that we will never betray the dreams of martyrs," said the chief adviser.