Youth voices echo in Ottawa marking one year of July Uprising

A year after the student-led mass uprising, the spirit of the historic movement was echoed in Canada's capital on Tuesday as youth leaders, academics and activists came together to commemorate the first anniversary of the July Uprising.

Organized by the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa in collaboration with the University of Toronto, the event titled "Monsoon Rising: Celebrating Youth Resilience - One Year After" paid tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives during the July-August Uprising and reaffirmed the commitment to build a just, inclusive and peaceful Bangladesh.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Nahida Sobhan inaugurated the event, paying solemn tribute to the martyrs of the July Uprising and the brave individuals who stood firm against repression, according to a message received here today. 

"We remember with reverence, and we move forward with responsibility," she said in her opening remarks.

Messages from the President and Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, issued on the occasion, were read out before observing a one-minute silence in memory of the martyrs. 

A short documentary chronicling the July events was also screened, recalling the mass mobilization across Bangladesh for justice, equality, and democratic reforms.

A hybrid panel discussion followed, featuring a diverse group of speakers from both Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi diaspora. 

Among the panellists were Mustahid Husain (author and anthropologist, University of Toronto), Prapti Taposhi (student leader and feminist activist, Jahangirnagar University), Rafid Hossain (investigative producer, BBC Eye), Srijoni Rahman (PhD researcher and public servant, York University), and Tanha Tanjila (youth activist and refugee rights advocate, Dalhousie University). The session was moderated by Shuchita Husain, an international education specialist from York University.

The discussion explored the roots and significance of the July Uprising, with panelists reflecting on the youth-led movement's contribution to shaping Bangladesh's democratic aspirations and social transformation.

The programme concluded with a resounding commitment from the participants to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs by promoting peace, democratic values, and justice, ensuring that "tyranny will never rise again."

The event drew participation from members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, students, academics, foreign diplomats and civil society representatives based in Canada.