BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said the July-August mass uprising represented the culmination of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s 17-year-long movement against what he called Awami misrule. He made the remarks early Wednesday, July 1, at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka during a candlelight event titled “Aloy Smriti Somujjol,” organized by the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal to mark the second anniversary of the uprising. Participants lit candles and sang the national anthem in memory of those killed in the July-August events.

Rizvi praised the sacrifices of the movement’s martyrs, saying their memory would continue to inspire resistance to injustice and authoritarianism. He criticized the Awami League government, alleging corruption in major infrastructure projects and urging students to remain vigilant. He also commended BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s leadership, describing it as a unifying force for nationalism.

JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib said the organization would continue to commemorate the uprising annually, honoring the 142 JCD members and supporters who died. Other leaders reaffirmed their commitment to democracy, justice, and national sovereignty.