Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, July 17, 2025 (BSS) - Speakers at a discussion have said that martyred Abu Sayeed, by sacrificing his own life heroically, broke the 'well-established' foundations of fascism and freed the nation from the culture of fear.
 
They viewed this at the discussion followed by a dua mehfil organised by the Rangpur Regional Information Office of PID at its conference room in the city in observance of the July Martyrs’ Day-2025 on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The event was arranged to commemorate July Uprising martyrs on the first martyrdom anniversary of Abu Sayeed, who was killed in police firing during the anti-discrimination student movement in front of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur on July 16, 2024.
 
With the Information Officer of the Rangpur Regional Information Office of PID Md Farhad Ahmed in the chair, BSS Rangpur divisional correspondent and senior journalist Md Mamun Islam attended the event as the chief guest.
 
Assistant Information Officer of Rangpur Regional Information Office Ayesha Siddika also attended the event moderated by Assistant Information Officer Md Rupal Mia.
 
The speakers said that the situation of the anti-quota and anti-discrimination student movement in 2024 was the result of the long-term anti-people activities of the then authoritarian regime, which forced the people to seek a way out of fascism.
 
Expressing deep respect for the martyrs of the July Uprising, Information Officer Farhad Ahmed said everyone should focus on building a new Bangladesh free from fear and discrimination in the light of the spirit of the martyrs and injured of the mass uprising.
 
Journalist Mamun Islam said that students and public stood united against oppression, torture, enforced disappearances, extortion, looting of public funds, tender- terrorism, politicization of every organ of the state and lack of accountability for injustice.
 
While the anti-discrimination student movement was advancing democratically, the then fascist regime and its terrorists were increasing the level of torture against students and the public protesting on the streets.
 
He said, "On July 16 last year, during the anti-discrimination student movement in front of the university, Abu Sayeed, a talented student of the English Department of Begum Rokeya University, was shot dead by police."
 
The video of Abu Sayeed’s martyrdom instantly went viral on social media and sparked student and public movements in the country, which later paved the way for changes in the political landscape.
 
He said, "The entire country woke up like a flame, bringing together students and people from all walks of life, forcing Sheikh Hasina to flee the country on August 5, and the nation gained its second independence, free from fascism."
 
He called for remembering the contributions of all martyrs in the July Uprising, standing by the families of the martyrs, and realizing the dream of building a new and prosperous Bangladesh.
 
Later, Moulana Md Ahsan Habib, Imam of the Parjatan Motel Model Mosque, led the dua mehfil, praying for the forgiveness and eternal peace of the departed souls of all the martyrs of the July Uprising.