MP Nurunnisa Siddika has called for a universal commitment to implement the July Charter “at any cost,” describing the July mass uprising as an important chapter in Bangladesh’s history. In a statement issued on Wednesday, she said students and members of the public had expressed aspirations for justice, democracy, human dignity and a discrimination-free society through courage, sacrifice and selflessness two years earlier.

Siddika said more than about 1,500 people were martyred while taking part in the July mass uprising, while thousands of students and members of the public were injured. She said some lost hands, legs or their eyesight. She paid deep respect to those killed in the struggle for people’s rights, saying the nation remembers their sacrifices with respect. She also expressed sympathy for the injured and affected people and wished them a speedy recovery and welfare.

She said protecting the true dignity of the martyrs’ sacrifices requires sincere work to establish a just, accountable and humane state system. Siddika called for freedom of expression, human rights and justice for every citizen. She described government delay in implementing the public mandate for a discrimination-free state system as disappointing and urged unity, tolerance and mutual respect.