Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in a message issued on August 4 ahead of July Mass Uprising Day, described the August 5, 2024 uprising as a historic victory that ended more than a decade and a half of fascist rule and restored people’s democratic rights. He called for preserving, at any cost, the national unity forged through the sacrifice of those killed in the movement.

Rahman said the government he described as fascist was forced to flee the country in the face of the uprising, and that the day is being observed nationally as July Mass Uprising Day. He said the BNP, other anti-fascist political parties and dissenting people had faced repression, disappearances, killings, attacks and cases over many years. He also referred to former BNP lawmaker Ilias Ali and commissioner Chowdhury Alam among people who remain missing.

The prime minister said thousands were killed and at least 30,000 injured during the July-August uprising. He urged efforts toward political and economic empowerment, equality, human dignity and social justice to build a democratic Bangladesh. He also said differing views should not turn into hostility and called for preventing any return of authoritarianism, fascism, extremism or militancy.