Never bow to oppression, urges CA in video message

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said the country must pledge never to bow down to oppression, as he addressed the nation on the first anniversary of the July uprising.

In a video message aired during commemorations organised by district administrations across the country, Prof Yunus said, "Today we have gathered not only to recall the past, we have come to make an oath. An oath that we will never bow down to any form of oppression."

He called on the people to build a new Bangladesh based on accountability, human rights, and justice.

The chief adviser paid tribute to those who lost their lives during last year's mass uprising.

"We will not let the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs of July go in vain. Their dream will be the blueprint for building tomorrow's Bangladesh, let this be our vow on this day," he added.

He described August 5 not just as a day of remembrance, but an occasion for national commitment.

"August 5 is not just a commemorative day, it is a tale of mass awakening, and a day of the nation's rebirth from fascist rule."

He also paid homage to the freedom fighters of 1971.

Recalling the spirit of the Liberation War, he said, "In 1971, the people of this land took part in an armed liberation war to establish equality, human dignity, and social justice."

However, he noted that even after five decades, the country had yet to fulfil those promises.

"But even after half a century of independence, the people of this country have been deprived of justice and democracy and subjected to discrimination."

The chief adviser said, "A beneficiary class had emerged over time through the establishment of a mafia system in every sector."

He said that people acted or spoke in favour of the autocratic regime in exchange for benefits, financial or otherwise.

"Anyone siding with the autocratic regime would get a job, would get work," said Yunus. He noted that this beneficiary class also emerged in government institutions. They existed even in educational institutions, economic institutions, judiciary, law enforcement, media and in cultural spheres.

He strongly criticised the state's use of force against dissent during the Awami League regime.

"During this one and a half decades, police along with party cadres carrying weapons attacked protesters in every rightful movement, protest, and demonstration. In the past 16 years, whoever criticised the government or spoke in favour of citizens' rights was arrested or disappeared. Millions of opposition political leaders and activists were indiscriminately arrested and detained."

He alleged that the former regime used violent tactics to suppress mass movements.

"The fascist government attempted to cling to power by firing bullets into the people's chests. They shot indiscriminately, made arrests, shut down the internet to hide news of the killings, and conducted raids under the cover of darkness to detain students."

"They did not allow the wounded to receive treatment at hospitals. Hospitals were instructed not to admit the injured," he added.

Paying tribute to the July Uprising victims, Yunus said, "On this July Mass Uprising Day, I pay my deep respects to the martyrs of July, the heroic children of the nation. I express the nation's gratitude and respect to you."

"The true honour to the great heroes of July will only be fulfilled when we succeed in building this country into a truly welfare-oriented state," he said.