Dhaka (TDI): On Tuesday, thousands of Bangladeshis gather in the capital for rallies, protests to mark the first anniversary of the deadly protests that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh’s interim government leader Yunus said, “Together, we will build a Bangladesh where tyranny will never rise again.” He also paid tribute to those who sacrificed for the state and said that a peaceful, transparent, and fair election is set to be held next year.
“Fallen autocrats and their self-serving allies remain active,” he added. Yunus also urged unity from people to protect the gains of the uprising while his government holds reform talks with political parties and civil society.
The interim government of Bangladesh has launched sweeping reforms, and trials for those responsible for the July killings are taking place. Throughout the capital, police were on patrol with armored vehicles patrolling the streets to stop any attempt by Hasina’s banned Awami League to disrupt the day’s events.
Hasina said in an open letter to the people of Bangladesh, adding that she had never resigned from her duties as prime minister. “Let this anniversary not be a day of retrospection, but a rallying cry for a brighter tomorrow.”
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She added, “Bangladesh has overcome adversity before, and we will rise again, stronger, more united, and more determined to build a democracy that truly serves its people.”
The July Declaration, which is set to be announced later in the day by the interim government leader, Yunus, will formally recognize the 2024 student-led uprising and the shift away from authoritarian rule to democratic renewal.
Last year, the mass protests, triggered by accusations of corruption, election interference, and authoritarian governance, quickly spread from Dhaka to major cities as tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Bangladesh on August 5, marking a dramatic turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
For many citizens, August 5, 2024, is already being called a “second liberation day,” a moment of public uprising that reshaped the nation’s direction.
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
