Bangladesh protests continue as activists demand proclamation of July uprising

Thousands of protesters on Tuesday gathered in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka to demand justice for those killed during a mass uprising against the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in July, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

The "March for Unity" began Tuesday afternoon at the Central Shaheed Minar, with participants observing a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives in the July protests. The event, organised by the Students Against Discrimination, started at 4:00 pm.

Meanwhile, the Students Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee announced they would stage further demonstrations if the government fails to issue the Proclamation of July Uprising by January 15, The Daily Star reported.

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Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Students Against Discrimination said, "We still do not have a document of proclamation on the July mass uprising. It must be issued by January 15. That day we want to reunite here with the proclamation."

He further said that their fight against "fascism" and the Awami League will continue. "Our struggle against fascism and the Awami League will continue. Many couldn't accept our uprising and that is why there are conspiracies afoot at the Secretariat, in the police, and even in the courts," Abdullah said.

The convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee Nasiruddin Patwary said, "We want a new Bangladesh that will not tolerate any intimidation by any country; we want a country without any tender manipulation and extortion. We want the government to immediately bring the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina to book," according to The Daily Star.

Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee asserted, "The next election will be held to elect a constituent assembly which will decide on the new constitution and later will play the role of the legislature."

Arif Sohel, member secretary of Students Against Discrimination said, "We learned from the uprising that the meaning of independence is the rights of farmers-labours, the basic human rights of all people, their right to food, education and health. All these should be in the proclamation."

On August 5, a student-led movement ousted Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Hasina, 76, fled to India and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed.

In July, tens of thousands of students hit the streets, demanding reforms in the quota system which reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

Following this, Sheikh Hasina-led Bangladesh government suspended mobile internet services on July 17 and imposed a curfew.

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The protests - one of the biggest upheavals of Hasina's 15-year tenure - remained largely peaceful until the demonstrators were attacked by the police and pro-government student groups last week, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had said that at least 147 people were killed during the violence. The main protester group, Students Against Discrimination, gave its own preliminary count of at least 266 dead.