Staff Correspondent

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Sunday said the July mass uprising was the result of a united movement and should not be credited to only two political parties.

Speaking at a discussion titled "Martyrs' Sacrifice, Our Responsibility and a New Bangladesh" organised by Jagrata July Forum at the Central Kochi-Kachar Mela auditorium in Segunbagicha, Anee said the foundation of the July uprising had been built through 16 years of anti-authoritarian movements. 

"The united movement and struggle gave birth to the events of July 36," he said.

Referring to the formation of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Anee alleged that those who once did not support Bangladesh's independence are now providing shelter to others who have formed a political party.

The minister said many leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) who actively participated in the July movement were not recognised.

"Those who were involved in the movement under the banner of Chhatra Dal, including many from my own district, are absent from the list. Only two or four names are there," he said.

Anee said he remained in contact with activists on the ground until he was jailed on July 25.

"But after I was released, I could no longer find that leadership. A new leadership emerged, and today they are in the opposition. Those two parties are Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP)," he said.

Questioning the exclusion of many participants, he asked, "Where did everyone else go? Did they not participate in the movement? Were they not part of the struggle against fascism? Were they not victims of enforced disappearance, killings or martyrdom?"

He also criticised the previous interim government's decision to describe certain individuals as the "masterminds" of the July uprising.

"If the interim government had not called them the 'masterminds,' they would not have gained so much influence. Calling them the masterminds was itself a mistake," he said.

"The real masterminds were the people of this country and the general students. The movement was led by ordinary students, and all of us who had been involved in previous movements merged with them in that struggle," he added.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment State Minister Nurul Haque Nur attended the programme as the keynote speaker.

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain spoke as a special discussant.