July Proclamation pledges legal protection for injured protesters, families of fallen

Interim government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has unveiled the July Proclamation, formally recognising the martyrs of the July Uprising as national heroes and pledging legal protection for injured protesters, families of the dead, and the wider student-public movement.

Yunus read the proclamation shortly after 5pm on Tuesday at the South Plaza of parliament, flanked by representatives of major political parties, marking the first anniversary of the Uprising that brought down the Awami League government.

“The proclamation has been formulated to reflect the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh, who triumphed in the mass uprising on Aug 5, 2024,” the statement read.

The document states: “The people of Bangladesh express their desire to recognise the martyrs of the July Uprising as national heroes and provide necessary legal protection to the students and people participating in the movement”

The proclamation also pledges constitutional recognition of the Uprising, affirming that a future elected government will enshrine it in the revised constitution.

The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by a minute of silence in remembrance of the martyrs. Sabrina Afroze Semonti, a family member of a slain protester, gave the opening speech.

Spanning 1,036 words and 28 clauses, the July Proclamation highlights injustices under Pakistan’s 23-year rule, the disillusionments of post-independence Bangladesh, the 1990 Mass Uprising, the 1/11 crisis of 2007, and alleged constitutional and humanitarian violations during the Awami League’s nearly 16-year rule.