President Hafiz Uddin ‘ashamed, pained’ by disruption at July Uprising event

Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad says he felt “ashamed, pained” by the uproar and walkout at a state ceremony marking July Uprising Day, warning that such disorder damages Bangladesh’s dignity.

Speaking Wednesday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, he said a documentary screened at the event failed to feature July Uprising icon Abu Sayed and late BNP chief Khaleda Zia.

He called the omissions “mistakes”, but said participants should have calmed down after Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Aazam Khan acknowledged the errors and apologised.

“Some mistakes were made, and the honourable minister admitted them with folded hands and apologised repeatedly. After that, everyone should have calmed down,” Hafiz said.

He called the continued disruption and parliamentary-style “walkout” at a national event “undesirable”. Some foreign guests left amid the uproar, he noted, saying the incident had tarnished the country’s image.

The documentary drew protests from injured July protesters, families of those slain and some NCP members, who alleged inadequate representation of key events and figures. 

Some chanted “fake, fake”, prompting NCP Member Secretary and MP Akhter Hossen to take the stage and demand corrections.

Hafiz said he noticed Akhter trying to calm his followers, but added that party leaders often struggle to control their supporters.

The acting president also urged respect for the elected government.

“Brother, we have come here with the people’s votes. We are representatives elected by the people. We did not fly in from the sky and land here,” he said.

He vowed that the government would accept accountability for its mistakes while working collectively to correct them.

Hafiz became acting president after Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Jul 24. It was his first state event in the role.

He said caring for the families of those killed and rehabilitating those injured in the July Uprising was the government’s “most sacred responsibility”. 

Forcing July protesters to seek help from ministers would be “a shame for the nation”, he said.

Hafiz called for a democratic, just and corruption-free Bangladesh where every citizen enjoys equal rights and dignity.

“Whatever our differences, we must remain united on national interests, democratic values, and independence and sovereignty,” he said.

He also stressed that elections are integral to democracy and urged citizens to protect the dignity of the presidency -- and, ultimately, Bangladesh itself.