Bangladesh Commemorates July Mass Uprising Amid Heightened Security

Inauguration of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum

Dhaka, August 5: Bangladesh has officially opened a memorial museum dedicated to the victims of the violent protests that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in 2024, amidst increased security measures across the nation.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the 'July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum' at Ganabhaban, the official residence of the prime minister during Hasina's tenure, marking the anniversary of her departure to India on August 5, 2024.

In his speech during the unveiling of the museum's plaque, Rahman stated, "Those responsible for the anti-fascist movement will face justice through a fair and transparent legal process."

He emphasized the importance of justice for all crimes to uphold the rule of law, with Interim government chief Muhammad Yunus present beside him.

The Prime Minister also declared that government institutions would be named in honor of the activists who lost their lives during the uprising and those who were killed under Hasina's Awami League rule since 2009.

A report from the UN rights office in February 2025 indicated that approximately 1,400 individuals lost their lives between July 15 and August 15 of the previous year, a period referred to as the 'July Uprising,' during which Hasina's administration initiated a crackdown on demonstrators.

Following Hasina's flight to India amid widespread protests against her controversial job quota system, Yunus assumed the role of chief adviser to the Interim government three days later.

In November 2025, a special tribunal established by Yunus' government sentenced Hasina to death for "crimes against humanity" and "genocide." The interim regime also issued an executive order banning Hasina's Awami League, which has held power multiple times since 1971. This decision was later supported by Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government after the elections on February 12.

August 5 is now recognized as 'July Mass Uprising Day' in Bangladesh, with various programs organized by the government, political parties, and cultural organizations to honor the sacrifices of those, including students, who protested against what they termed Hasina's "misrule and autocracy," as reported by the state-run news agency.

In a related matter, Bangladesh has heightened security measures nationwide due to concerns of potential violence coinciding with Hasina's upcoming virtual address from New Delhi.

Earlier this week, authorities issued a nationwide security alert, instructing police to exercise extra caution for their personnel and vehicles. However, officials reported no incidents of violence by Wednesday afternoon.

The Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed to maintain security in Gopalganj, Hasina's ancestral district and the birthplace of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The political landscape of Bangladesh shifted dramatically when Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, following extensive protests against her government. Three days later, Muhammad Yunus took charge as the chief adviser of the Interim government.

On November 17, 2025, the International Crime Tribunal, Bangladesh (ICT-BD) sentenced Hasina and her cabinet's home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, to death in absentia for their roles in suppressing the protests.

Reports and analysts indicate a growing sense of anxiety in Bangladesh since Hasina announced her intention to return home by December.

This unease has intensified with her party's announcement of her virtual meeting with the international press at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Ahead of her address, Sajeeb Wazed, her son based in the US and adviser on ICT affairs for the ousted Awami government, remarked on social media, "August 5 serves as a reminder of how an organized state and social system can be overtaken by extremists driven by the ambitions of power-hungry anti-Bangladesh factions."

Wazed, who is also set to deliver a keynote speech at Hasina's event, noted that this day severely disrupted Bangladesh's democratic continuity, leading to prolonged political unrest and a crisis across various sectors.

Zahed Ur Rahman, the prime minister's information adviser, previously warned media outlets that broadcasting or publishing Hasina's speech would result in strict legal repercussions, as it would violate an active ban imposed by the ICT-BD, which sentenced her to death.

However, the chief prosecutor of ICT-BD, Aminul Islam, clarified that there is no comprehensive legal prohibition against broadcasting or publishing Hasina's statements, stating that the tribunal only restricted the Bangladeshi media from airing comments that could be deemed "hate speech" or that would undermine the tribunal's dignity.