Don’t waste ‘unique’ opportunity’ to stand with oppressed, says chief justice

He stresses that the July Revolution’s goals will remain unfulfilled if disadvantaged groups’ rights are ignored

The July Revolution has provided a unique opportunity to stand up for the oppressed and ensure their rights are protected, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has said.

Speaking at the Citizen’s Conference 2024, titled “People-centric Reform for Good Governance: Aspirations of Disadvantaged Communities” at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Sunday, the top judge urged the need to make the most of this moment to bring about change.

The event was organised by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, or UNDP, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

The chief justice recalled the sacrifices made by students and the public during the July-August uprising, which he said had brought a "new independence" to the country.

He stressed that justice must not be delayed.

Supreme Court chief said, "If citizens' rights are not upheld, the rights of disadvantaged groups will not be protected. Without that, we will fail to achieve the true aspirations of independence."

A statement from the organisers said that the chief justice remarked that if the disadvantaged are not uplifted, the sacrifices made on the 5th of August will be in vain.

“Only by highlighting the struggles of those in hardship and bringing about change in their lives will we achieve the success we desire,” he added.