NCP leaders Hannan Masud, Arif Sohel boycott today's July Declaration unveiling
Abdul Hannan Masud stated that he would not attend the event, citing concerns over the exclusion of key organisers and the families of those who died during the July-August movement
Two leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Abdul Hannan Masud and Arif Sohel, have announced their decision to boycott the July Declaration ceremony, set to be unveiled in Dhaka today (5 August) by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
The announcements were made separately on their personal Facebook profiles in the early hours of the day.
Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud stated that he would not attend the event, citing concerns over the exclusion of key organisers and the families of those who died during the July-August movement.
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"I received an invitation card for [today's] July Declaration ceremony," he wrote, adding, "I have heard that this government could not invite all 158 coordinators and co-coordinators, the legitimate body of the July uprising. They may set up some seats, but there will not be enough room for all 158 people.
"I do not know if the seats will be for the families of the martyrs! Those whose courage and leadership brought about this uprising and this government have become worthless in less than a year," he further wrote.
"If my fellow fighters, who led the movement to topple Hasina without fear of death, and all the families of the martyrs do not receive their due respect, I, Abdul Hannan Masud, personally announce that I will boycott the July Declaration programme," he concluded his post.
Meanwhile, Joint Member Secretary Arif Sohel issued a broader appeal, urging leaders of the July-August movement to reject the programme and work towards creating what he called a "people's declaration."
"To the leaders of the mass uprising and the revolutionary students and people: Reject the farcical declaration, prepare the people's declaration!" he wrote.
He also wrote about what a mass uprising declaration is and who can make the proclamation.
He ended his post by saying, "An appeal to the uprising's leaders (158) of the Students Against Discrimination who led the July-August mass uprising:
"Reject [today's] farcical declaration. Take up the responsibility of creating a new declaration on behalf of the people, involving all classes, professions, religions, castes, and nations.
"Rectifying the mistake of having previously failed to fulfil that historic responsibility, take a stand against the looters, the corrupt officials, and the ambitious cheats, and stand with the revolutionary student-worker-farmer people of Bangladesh.
"Do not erase your names from the revolutionary leadership by siding with the looters and the established system.
"Insha'Allah, with the revolutionary students and people, the true declaration of the July-August Mass Uprising will be prepared. The aspirations of the martyrs and those who survived will be fulfilled!"
