Struggle for a better future continues

The sacrifices made by the "July heroes" will only be truly meaningful when Bangladesh is transformed into a real welfare state, said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday.

"Today, the entire nation remembers a day that has left an indelible mark on the history of our country. August 5 is not just a special day; it is a symbol of mass uprising and the dawn of a new beginning," he said in a video message marking the July Mass Uprising Day, organised by district administrations across the country.

Marking the day, he paid tribute to all the heroic freedom fighters of the 1971 Liberation War, saying that Bangladesh was born as an independent and sovereign state at the cost of countless lives.

Prof Yunus said despite achieving independence, the people of Bangladesh have continued to be denied justice and democracy for more than five decades.

He said the country's path to true freedom has been marred by discrimination, corruption, and misgovernance.

The nation must now strive to honour the sacrifices of those who fought for independence and those who died during the July uprising by transforming Bangladesh into a place where justice, equality, and democracy truly prevail, said the chief adviser.

He stressed that July Mass Uprising Day should serve as a reminder that the struggle for a better future continues, and that the country's youth must remain at the forefront of this fight for a fairer and more equitable Bangladesh.

"Today, we have not come just to remember the past -- we have come to take an oath. The oath is that we will not bow our heads to any kind of oppression; we will establish an accountable, humane, democratic, and non-discriminatory state. A state that will always work for the welfare of the people," he said.

"We will not let the sacrifice of the July martyrs go in vain. Their sacrifice will be the inspiration for our path. Their dream will be the construction line of our future Bangladesh -- let this be our oath today," he added.