Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 7, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, said it is both inaccurate and misleading to portray the July-August 2024 mass uprising as the achievement of any single individual or group.

"No one can claim ownership of this mass uprising. It belongs to the 18 crore people of Bangladesh," he said.

He said the true outcome of the mass uprising was realized when the people resolved that they would no longer tolerate oppression and that the authoritarian government had to be removed.

He made the remarks while addressing a discussion titled "Fascism, July Revolution and Today's Bangladesh" as the chief guest at the July Memorial Hall of the Chattogram Press Club this afternoon.

The discussion was jointly organised by the Chattogram Press Club and the Chattogram Metropolitan Union of Journalists (CMUJ).

City BNP Convener Ershad Ullah, MP, and Abu Sufian, MP, among others, addressed the event as special guests.

He said Bangladesh had been heavily burdened by the Awami League's 15 years of misrule, during which BNP leaders and activists were subjected to enforced disappearances, severe torture, and false cases.

He added that people from various professions, including journalists with dissenting views, also faced repression, ultimately leading to the July-August mass uprising as a response to years of oppression.

Mir Helal said the uprising was not intended to bring anyone to state power or government; rather, it was fought to establish Bangladesh as a truly independent and sovereign nation.

Zahidul Karim Kochi, president of the Chattogram Press Club, delivered the welcome address. The discussion was moderated by the club's General Secretary Golam Maula Murad and Joint Secretary Meah Mohammad Arif.

CMUJ President Mohammad Shah Nowaz presided over the event.

Among others, Chattogram University Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Al-Forkan, Premier University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasrul Qadir, Chattogram Development Authority Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain, Chattogram City BNP Joint Convener MA Aziz, Chattogram District Bar Association President Advocate Tarique Ahmed, Press Club Vice President Mustafa Nayem, Chattogram Metropolitan Union of Journalists General Secretary Saleh Noman, and Advocate Abdus Sattar, an injured July uprising participant and former president of the Chattogram District Bar Association, also spoke at the programme.