The political party Gono Odhikar Parishad has declared its intention to reject the ‘July Declaration’, which they claim was finalised without proper consultation or recognition of key participants in the July movement.
The announcement came during a press conference held at the party’s central office in Al Razi Complex, Purana Paltan, Dhaka, at approximately 11:30 AM on Sunday, 3 August.
Rationale Behind the Rejection
In a written statement, General Secretary Md. Rashed Khan outlined the reasons for the party’s rejection of the declaration:
- In 2018, following a nationwide quota reform movement, the government abolished quotas for first and second-class government jobs.
- However, on 5 June 2024, a High Court ruling reinstated a 30% quota, prompting fresh student-led protests against perceived discrimination.
- These protests, initially focused on quota reform, evolved into a broader movement for state reform when the government allegedly began using lethal force against demonstrators.
“This was not a 36-day uprising alone,” Rashed asserted.
“It was the culmination of 14–15 years of continuous struggle, including the 2018 quota reform movement, the safe roads campaign, protests against VAT in private universities, and the uncompromising political efforts by various parties.”
Criticism of the Drafting Process
Rashed Khan expressed concern over the drafting and announcement process of the July Declaration:
- The interim government, according to him, has already determined the date and time for releasing the declaration.
- However, no discussions were held with the core participants of the revolution, which he termed a serious omission.
“Those trying to confine this historic uprising to just 36 days are essentially denying the broader legacy of past struggles,” he said.
“Without consultation and recognition of those involved in the movement, the declaration will be outright rejected by Gono Odhikar Parishad.”
He added:
“July does not belong to any one group. It is a collective achievement. Writing a declaration to appease one particular faction will distort the historical narrative—much like what happened in 1971. This contradicts the very spirit of July.”
Voices at the Press Conference
The event was moderated by Abu Hanif, a senior member of the Higher Council. Other notable speakers and attendees included:
| Name | Designation |
| Faruk Hasan | Senior Vice-President |
| Hasan Al Mamun | Senior Joint General Secretary |
| Shakil Uzzaman | Member, Higher Council |
| Shahidul Islam Fahim | Member, Higher Council |
| Advocate Sarkar Nure Ershad Siddiqui | Member, Higher Council |
| Jilu Khan | Joint General Secretary |
| Shah Mohammad Sagar | Assistant Office Secretary |
| Akhtaruzzaman Samrat | Organising Secretary, Dhaka Division, Student Odhikar Parishad |
Summary Table
| Issue | Details |
| Declaration Name | July Declaration |
| Rejection by | Gono Odhikar Parishad |
| Reason | Lack of consultation with movement participants and historical omission |
| Original Movement Context | Quota reform protests evolved into state reform movement |
| High Court Verdict (5 June 2024) | Reinstated 30% quota in govt jobs |
| Primary Speaker at Press Conference | Md. Rashed Khan, General Secretary |
| Claim | July Declaration ignores 14–15 years of political and student struggle |
| Warning | Biased declaration would mirror historic misrepresentations like that of 1971 |
The party reiterated that any effort to monopolise the narrative of the July uprising undermines its collective and historic significance.
