Bangladesh asks schools, colleges to mark Aug 5, Jul 16 as Uprising, Martyrs Days

Headteachers, principals and field-level education officers have been asked to ensure that the anniversaries are observed with proper dignity at their institutions

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DHSE) has ordered all public and private schools and colleges across Bangladesh to observe Aug 5 as “July Uprising Day” and Jul 16 as “July Martyrs Day”.

The directive was issued Thursday, following a government decision to officially mark the two dates every year.

Aug 5 will be observed as a public holiday to commemorate the fall of the Awami League government during the student-led mass uprising.

The day has been classified as a “Category A” national observance.

Jul 16 has been designated as a "Category B" observance -- to honour Abu Sayed, an English department student at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, who was shot dead by police during the quota reform protests.

The Cabinet Division announced the decisions in a notification on Wednesday, instructing all ministries, departments and agencies to make arrangements for commemorations.

The education ministry followed up with a letter to its departments, which led to Thursday’s directive from the directorate.

Headteachers, principals and field-level education officers have been asked to ensure the two days are observed with proper dignity at their institutions.

The interim government has also scrapped plans to celebrate Aug 8 as “New Bangladesh Day”, which had been declared to mark the formation of the interim government.

The announcement faced strong public opposition and has now been officially withdrawn by the Advisory Council.

The July Uprising began as a student-led movement demanding reform of the government job quota system.

It started at Dhaka University and quickly spread nationwide.

The 36-day protest spiralled into a full-scale anti-government movement.

As unrest intensified, Sheikh Hasina government resorted to force -- firing live rounds, tear gas shells and rubber bullets.

Facebook was shut down, followed by a total internet blackout. The crackdown only fuelled more protests.

Sayed was killed on Jul 16, becoming the movement’s first recognised martyr.

Within three weeks, the death toll and public anger forced the government’s collapse.

According to an official gazette, 834 people were killed in the Uprising.

A United Nations investigation report on the human rights violations committed during the period, however, suggests that over 1,400 people may have been killed between Jul 1 and Aug 5.