Students, Citizens' Committee to unveil July uprising proclamation 31 Dec seeking state without discrimination

Highlights:

• Reform or annulment of 1972 constitution sought
• Says interim govt to be entrusted with reforms of institutions, constitution
• Seeks justice, fair trials of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, July massacre
• Seeks fair trial of financial crimes
• Seeks bringing back laundered public money
• Seeks a political settlement altering 1972 and 1/11 settlements to pave way for new democratic republic

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens' Committee are set to present the "Proclamation of the July Uprising," which they say will pave the way for a new democratic republic.

"...we need a state which will be free of any kind of discrimination, we further resolve that this proclamation of July shall be deemed to have come into effect from 5th August of 2024," reads the document.

The proclamation will be officially announced at 3pm on 31 December at an event in the capital's Central Shaheed Minar.

Two similar posts announcing this were made on the verified Facebook page of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens' Committee last evening (28 December).

The Business Standard has obtained a copy of the draft proclamation.

"We want reform or annulment of '72 constitution as it has sustained fascism in Bangladesh," reads the document.

It says the interim government, duly constituted, will be entrusted with reforms of the institutions and constitution, justice and fair trials of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and July massacre, fair trial of financial crimes and bringing back laundered public money.

"We resolve that, we need a political settlement altering the '72 and 1/11 settlements, which will pave the way for new democratic republic," it reads.

The document states that the people of this land fought for its independence from colonial domination for centuries and gained independence from British colonisers in 1947.   

Pakistan has discriminated against people of this land and killed millions of people. People of this land resisted Pakistani forces and brought independence in glorious 1971, it reads.

The document also says the 1972 constitution has shattered the vision of millions who were martyred and paved the way for the failure of democracy and national institutions, and martial law regimes and constitutional amendments for political ends made the state weak and its institutions vulnerable.

"...through these tumults journey, Bangladesh couldn't establish democratic institution, accountability and good governance ... failure of institutions and settlements such as instrument for transition of power has played a big role in notorious 1/11 settlement," it reads.  

The proclamation claims that eleven paradigms have sustained the Mujibist paradigm in Bangladesh and paved the way for Sheikh Hasina's unquestioned power and hegemony.

"...the ideals and promises of anticolonial struggles and Liberation War were weaponised for sustaining fascist ideologies and cult of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ... Starting from military institution, judiciary, civil and police administration became politicised, corrupt and crippled and made instrumental for repressive fascist mechanism," it reads.   

It also said enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings were rampant, and any dissidence became a target of brutal force for the last 15 and half years.    

The proclamation says Pilkhana, Shapla Massacre and killings of people by farcical judiciary happened with the state's machinery. Minorities and women became vulnerable targets of the fascist regime, and no justice has been served to them.     

It says anti-Indian activists were beaten, forcefully disappeared and killed mercilessly for their pro-Bangladesh stance in the fascist regime.   

It also says labourers were killed for their fair demands, and injustice and systematic killings against them were state-sponsored capitalism and development projects have worsened the environment and climate situation.

In the document, the students and public also say business conglomerates and public officials betrayed the nation and siphoned off billions of money by coordinating with the Sheikh Family and AL Leaders.

"Consecutive three elections were held in an illegitimate and corrupt manner, and people were deprived of their rights to vote ... Students and young people went through torture and substandard lives in campuses, and government employment became Awami League's party venture," it reads.

It says hereditary and racist ideals of the state caused discrimination among students, job seekers and citizens.

"...students protested against this discrimination and their dignity was questioned by fascist Hasina's 'grandsons of razakar' comments," it reads.

The proclamation states that peaceful protests of students against discrimination were dealt with brutal force, harassment and merciless assault, especially on female students and in response to these brutalities, students were sacrificing their lives.

It says law enforcement agencies and fascist criminals have killed thousands of unarmed students. Students placed a nine-point demand, and the government responded with more brutalities.  

Mentioning the government promulgated internet shutdowns, curfews and block raids against students and common people of this country, it says students called for a non-cooperation movement in line with the demand of immediate resignation of unelected and illegitimate Sheikh Hasina, "and this non-violent non-cooperation movement was dealt with killings and burning of students."  

The proclamation says people from all walks of life, of all cultural and religious orientations and identities, came together to forge an unforeseen unity against fascism, "even army officials and came to play a big role in saving democracy."  

"We, the students and common people of Bangladesh, have got widespread popular support, and in this way, we sacrificed more than a thousand lives," it reads.  

"We, hereby constitute ourselves as sovereign people,  

To restore the promises of liberation war – dignity, equality, justice, WE, the students and people of Bangladesh, hereby, call for dissolution of parliament and all offices nominated or selected by Hasina's regime," it further reads.

The proclamation says, "We, the students and people of Bangladesh, want an interim Government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, consisting of representative political leaders and civil society members.

"To avoid any military rule or continuation of the one eleven settlement, we want immediate release of political prisoners, including Khaleda Zia and student leaders."