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Published : 31 Jul 2025, 12:46 PM
People injured in the July-August uprising have taken to the streets, blocking the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka to demand the implementation of a July Charter.
The protesters gathered at the busy intersection around 11am on Thursday, bringing traffic to a halt, said Shahbagh Police Station chief Md Khalid Mansur.
“At least 400 people, including those injured in the uprising, are protesting at the Shahbagh intersection,” he said.
“As a result, traffic is at a stop around the Shahbagh intersection, leading to traffic jams on nearby roads.”
He added that additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the area.
The protest comes as the ongoing dialogue between 30 political parties on national reforms draws to a close.
Disagreements have emerged during the talks over the process of implementing the July Charter.
Several parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), have called for a legal framework to support the charter. The BNP, however, argues that the charter should be implemented through the next national parliament.
Amid the political uncertainty, the “July Warriors” have gathered at Shahbagh to press their demand for the charter’s implementation.
The demonstrators announced that the blockade will continue until the July Charter is delivered.
Masud Rana Sourav, the lead organiser of the protest, said: “Our programme will continue until our demands are met. We have repeatedly held discussions with the government, but the government has repeatedly made excuses. Promises will no longer suffice. The July Charter and the declaration must be issued. Otherwise, we will continue this programme.”
Nazir Ahmed Khan, one of the July Warriors, said: “The Advisory Council should understand we have already shed blood, and we are not afraid to shed blood again. Those who gave their lives to overthrow dictatorship are the glorious children of this nation. Do not threaten us with death. Disappearances and murders won’t stop us. All political parties have failed for the last seventeen years. But when the glorious children of this nation took to the streets, Hasina was forced to flee after a month.”
He added, “We are here with two demands. First, July certificates must be issued. Second, the July Proclamation must be given. If these two demands are not fulfilled, we will not leave the streets.”
Another protester, Md Babu Islam, said, “We have been given July Warrior cards. What are we supposed to do with them? When our injured brothers go to hospitals, they are not receiving proper treatment. We were given a health card.”
“We want our July certificates,” he said.
“Otherwise, if another government comes, they can file cases against us. We don’t want to be in that situation. If the July certificate is issued, we will leave the streets.”
