July Uprising anniversary: Thousands converge on Manik Mia Avenue as day progresses

As the anniversary of the July Uprising unfolds, swelling crowds are pouring into Dhaka’s Manik Mia Avenue on the anniversary of the July Uprising that toppled the Awami League government.

Starting from Tuesday afternoon, people from neighbourhoods began arriving at the venue in large and small groups with processions despite the rain. Many came alone, while others brought their families, reports bdnews24.com.

One of them was garment worker Alamgir Hossain from Chittagong Road who came with his wife, two young children, and mother-in-law.

Asked why he came, he replied: "I came for a free Bangladesh. Today is a day of joy."

When asked why it was a joyful day, he said: "On this day, Sheikh Hasina fled. We were freed."

Swarna Akter, who came from Manikganj, was roaming the event site with a flag wrapped around her head and another in hand. She arrived in the morning.

"This is a day of celebration and joy," she said. "Today, the autocrat fled. We achieved this freedom at the cost of many lives."

Habib Manzur from Chattogram’s Bahaddarhat suburb said he was in Dhaka for another engagement, but did not want to miss the "cheerful celebration”, so he came to Manik Mia Avenue.

However, not everyone was entirely happy with what had followed the Uprising.

Akhtaruzzaman Samrat, a Dhaka resident who claimed to have been actively involved in the Anti-discrimination Student Movement from the beginning, expressed disappointment that inequality still persisted even a year later.

"Earlier, Sheikh Hasina alone was the autocrat. Now, many others are becoming autocrats too," he said. "Families of those martyred in the movement are not receiving due respect, and the injured are not getting medical care."

Still, he sees potential.

"We saw how people who couldn’t afford rickshaw fare during the movement are now driving four-wheelers. But we haven’t seen complete reforms anywhere.

"We overthrew Sheikh Hasina to end discrimination. But now I see coordinators getting arrested for extortion.

“We fought to end extortion and corruption. If we ourselves become corrupt, how will this work?"

A day-long event was arranged at Manik Mia Avenue to commemorate the anniversary of the July Uprising.

The festivities began with a patriotic performance by cultural group Saimum Shilpigosthi at 12:10pm.

Band performances by Artcell, Warfaze, and Shunno were also scheduled. The event list included a reading of the July Proclamation and a special drone drama.

On Aug 5, 2024, a student-led Uprising brought an end to Sheikh Hasina’s uninterrupted 15-year rule.

The day the ousted prime minister fled to India is now commemorated as a public holiday.