Student Leaders Demand Govt Explanation For Delay In 'July Declaration'

The National Citizens Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have demanded a reasonable explanation from the interim government regarding the delay in the release of the "July Declaration." After receiving an explanation from the government, the two organizations will decide their next course of action.

Earlier, the organizations had set a deadline for the government to release the declaration by January 15. However, signals from the government suggest that the declaration might not be released within the given timeframe.

In this context, leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and National Citizens Committee have stated that the government must provide a "reasonable explanation" as to why the declaration has been delayed.

To generate public support for the 'July Declaration', both groups have been distributing leaflets and engaging in public outreach in cities like Dhaka and Chittagong, a campaign which is set to run until January 14.

Meanwhile, in a press briefing on Thursday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, interim government adviser Mahfuz Alam mentioned that the government intends to have discussions with all stakeholders regarding the declaration. He suggested that this could lead to an extension of the time frame. He also expressed hope that students would exercise patience and restraint.

However, there is dissatisfaction within the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee about the role of political parties in the process. The leaders believe that if the political parties were truly sincere, the declaration could have been made at any time, but the parties have not shown a cooperative attitude.

Akhtar Hossain, the General Secretary of the National Citizens Committee, told the media that if the government fails to finalize the declaration by January 15, it must provide a reasonable explanation. Afterward, the organization will have an internal discussion to decide whether to grant the government more time. However, the leaflet distribution and public outreach will continue until January 14.

Leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee have emphasized the importance of the declaration and are engaging with the public to generate support. They are also working on creating direct contact with the public through their upcoming political party formation.

The leaflets distributed by the two organizations are demanding the inclusion of seven key points in the declaration. These include granting state recognition to the martyrs of the July Uprising, pledging to provide free and immediate medical treatment to the injured, clearly identifying the leadership of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, ensuring justice for the perpetrators of the uprising, abolishing the fascist state system, and committing to reforms to establish a completely new democratic constitution.

The government is set to begin discussions with political parties and other stakeholders this week regarding the creation of the 'July Declaration'. However, the government will not be issuing the declaration itself but will be assisting in the process.

On December 31, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee had planned to release the 'July Revolution Declaration' at the Central Shaheed Minar. This move sparked various discussions in political circles, with many questioning the timing and potential impact of the declaration.

In response, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing stated on the night of December 30 that the interim government had taken the initiative to create the declaration based on national consensus. Subsequently, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement organized a rally called "March for Unity" at the Shaheed Minar on the afternoon of December 31 instead of releasing the declaration. During the rally, they gave the government a deadline of January 15 to release the declaration.

On January 4, the leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee announced that they would continue distributing leaflets, organizing rallies, and engaging in public outreach as part of their "Declaration Week," which would run from January 6 to 11. This schedule has now been extended until January 14.

Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Secretary Arif Sohel told the media that if the government fails to release the declaration by January 15, they will consider it negligence on the government's part for not taking the issue seriously enough and for failing to engage with all stakeholders adequately. After January 15, the movement will intensify its activities.