Government labels July Revolution declaration as a ‍‍`Private Initiative‍‍`: Press Secretary

The government has stated that it has no involvement in the declaration of the July Revolution, which the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement plans to announce on December 31. 

Mohammad Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the Chief Advisor, made it clear that the government considers it a "private initiative."

At a press briefing held on Sunday, December 29, in front of the State Guesthouse Jamuna, Shafiqul Alam responded to reporters‍‍` questions regarding the upcoming declaration. 

He explained, "This is a private initiative. We see it as a private initiative. The government has no involvement in this. Those who are supporting it are supporting this private initiative."

Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Mojumder, the Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor, also spoke at the briefing.

Earlier, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement had announced that they would present the July Revolution declaration at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka at 3 p.m. on December 31. 

On Sunday afternoon, the movement‍‍`s leaders discussed the declaration in a press conference at their central office in Banglamotor.

Hasnat Abdullah, one of the movement‍‍`s leaders, expressed that the declaration should have been made on August 5. 

He explained that the delay allowed certain groups in the media and intellectual circles, who support fascism, to work against the movement. 

"They are questioning the legitimacy of this movement, which stands on the blood of over 2,000 martyrs and more than 20,000 wounded individuals," he said.

Sarjis Alam, a former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the current main organizer of the National Citizens‍‍` Committee, shared his thoughts: "We have only crossed one phase of the revolution. The declaration of the July Revolution should have been made much earlier. We believe that, just as our revolution could bring together all anti-fascist forces, this declaration will also meet the hopes and dreams of many."

Sarjis Alam also revealed that a draft of the declaration has been prepared. He mentioned that the movement is collecting feedback from people of different political views, religions, and age groups who have directly participated in the revolution. 

The declaration is still being updated, edited, and improved.