Shariatpur July Memorial Set Ablaze by Chhatra League Member

In a disturbing incident in Shariatpur, a portion of the July Memorial was deliberately set on fire, according to local reports. The act, allegedly carried out under the cover of darkness by members of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), was captured in a 17-second video shared on Facebook late Friday night by Mohsin Madbor, the convener of the district BCL committee.

The video shows two to three individuals igniting flames at the memorial, which quickly escalated into a roaring fire. Mohsin Madbor claimed in the post that the perpetrators were members of the BCL. The footage spread rapidly across social media, prompting immediate attention from local activists and authorities.

By 9:00 pm, leaders and members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and National Youth Force (NJF) arrived at the memorial, located adjacent to the central Shahid Minar in Shariatpur town. District police intelligence officers and officials from the Palong Model Police Station were also present to assess the situation. Observers noted that the fire had damaged several parts of the memorial, leaving visible black scorch marks across four sections of the structure.

The memorial, painted a light orange, commemorates the martyrs of the July 36 uprising and the broader revolutionary movement. Various slogans honoring the July revolution are inscribed on the monument. Activists emphasised that the memorial, constructed by the local administration in a busy and densely populated area, should have been safeguarded against such attacks.

Former convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Imran Al Nazir, told the media: “It is incomprehensible how members of a banned organisation could carry out such an attack in a heavily trafficked area without assistance. The audacity of this act reflects the administration’s inaction.”

Kawser Mridha, convener of the Shariatpur district NJF, added: “The sacrifices of the July martyrs paved the way for BNP to assume state power. Attacking their memory in this manner is unacceptable. We demand that those responsible be swiftly identified and brought to justice; otherwise, the people will take action themselves.”

Shariatpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Rownak Jahan confirmed that the police had obtained the video and were investigating the incident. CCTV footage from nearby cameras is being collected to identify the suspects. Authorities have assured that those involved will face legal action.

Key Details of the Incident

The incident has raised concerns about the protection of public monuments and the enforcement of law in Shariatpur, with political and student groups calling for immediate accountability.