Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman urged Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman to take an initiative to restore unity among July revolutionaries. He made the appeal on Wednesday at the Engineers Institution in Ramna, Dhaka, during an event titled “Droh-er July in Memory of the Martyrs,” organised by the Forum of Engineers and Architects Bangladesh. Shafiqur said workers, students, religious scholars, businesspeople, ordinary citizens and political activists had collectively delivered Bangladesh and called for unity against fascism.

He said the same recognition should be given for the same work regardless of whether it was done by one’s own child or another person’s child. He also said anyone committing violence should be called a terrorist without applying different standards. Shafiqur encouraged Mahmudur Rahman to again lead an effort involving all sides, pledging prayers and support.

Mahmudur said the government should have formed an all-party committee to observe the anniversary of the July Revolution collectively. He argued that separate events led to several unpleasant incidents that could have been avoided through a unified observance. He said the government bears greater responsibility for building national unity, while the opposition should respond to such an effort.