Explosive Uprising of the Oppressed, Says DU Shibir President

Sadiq Kayem, the president of the Dhaka University branch of Islami Chhatra Shibir, said that the July Revolution was the ultimate collective and angry explosion of the oppressed from all levels. Our martyrs led this people's revolution. By sacrificing their God-given lives, they entrusted us with the responsibility to build a democratic Bangladesh based on equality and humanity.

He made these remarks in a Facebook post on Monday morning (September 23).

Sadiq Kayem further stated, "This movement stands on the blood of Shaheed Abu Saeed, on the memory of Shaheed Mir Mughdo, and on the sacrifice of the rickshaw puller brother who was martyred while constantly chanting slogans against tyranny. Over a thousand martyrs have guided us towards a new goal, 'Bangladesh 2.0.'"

He added, "Just as the movement was contributed to by the elite of society, it was also led by the most disadvantaged groups. From the tech-savvy kids of English-medium schools to the students of Qawmi and Aliya madrasas, from Shahbagh, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Uttara, and Savar to Jatrabari, which became the Stalingrad of Bengal, this revolution belonged to you, me, and everyone."

The president of DU Shibir said that the echoes of the revolution from Dhaka University's grounds spread to every university, school, and college. Private universities also couldn't stop this voice despite efforts. The anti-discrimination student movement became the voice of the people. This revolution belonged to workers and day laborers. Journalists, social media influencers, and expatriates who fought with remittances were also part of this movement. Despite risking their lives, expatriates took to the streets, raising slogans for the liberation of the nation and the people.

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Sadiq Kayem mentioned that those who like us, dislike us, hate us; those who love, disdain, or despise my organization, Islami Chhatra Shibir – it was with everyone's contribution that we achieved the great victory of the 36th of July. In the tradition of Fath al-Makkah, Fath al-Bangla, and Fath al-Kusuntuniya, we achieved the 'Victory of Ganabhaban'—the day Ganabhaban truly became the house of the people.

He also said, "Every person took to the streets, demanding answers to the question, 'Why did my brother die?' When they were violently attacked like hyenas in response to this question, our martyrs stood at the vanguard of the fight. The entire credit for this movement belongs to our martyrs and to our brothers and sisters who lost their limbs, sight, or were injured in various ways. Neither bullets nor oppression could stop them. After one martyr fell, another stood up, carrying the aspiration for a Bangladesh free from tyranny and dictatorship."

He continued, saying that, despite all the oppression and slow poisoning, the decision of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and her party BNP not to participate in the elections, the oppressed opposition parties like Jamaat-e-Islami that have been nurturing this revolution for decades, and the loss of our leaders and comrades like Ilyas Ali, Michael Chakma, Barrister Arman, and General Azmi due to executions, disappearances, and crossfire—all contributed to this revolution. The support of the urban middle class, the sisters standing as an unbreakable defense for their brothers in Hefazat, the participation of religious and ethnic minorities who disregarded the fascists' communal politics and became comrades, and the sacrifice of life and wealth by students and scholars of madrasas made this revolution a reality.

The DU Shibir president added that the BDR mutiny, Aina Ghar, the Shapla protests, the anti-Modi movement, the sufferings of families devastated by the stock market, and even the children of journalist couple Sagar-Runi were all part of the 16 years of fascist misrule that fueled the July Revolution. The martyrs were the brilliant sparks of this uprising.

Sadiq Kayem concluded, saying that those of us still alive in the free Bangladesh of the martyrs and Ghazis have a long road ahead. To fulfill the dreams of our martyrs, we must build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh together. If we fail, the blood of all martyrs from '47, '71, and '24 will be in vain. The sacrifice of our brothers who lost their vision will be for nothing if we cannot build a free and sovereign Bangladesh without discrimination.

In the end, he prayed, "May Allah, the Lord of the Universe, grant our martyrs the highest status of martyrdom. May He grant us the ability to fulfill the rights of their blood and to build a happy, prosperous, respectful, and united Bangladesh. Ameen."