Abu Sayed symbolized a nation overcoming fear: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the unforgettable image of Abu Sayed standing fearlessly in July 2024 was not merely a single moment; it symbolized a nation deprived of democratic rights overcoming its fear.

In a statement sent on Wednesday, marking July Martyrs' Day (16 July), the Prime Minister made these remarks.

"16 July is an unforgettable turning point in our national history. On that day, unarmed yet extraordinarily courageous students and citizens built resistance against state repression, the brutal use of lethal force, and the politics of fear, awakening the conscience of the nation”, he said.

Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was killed on this day in 2024 by police firing during the anti-quota protests.

The image of him standing with outstretched arms in front of police spread widely online stunning the nation. 

Six student protesters, including Wasim Akram and Foysal Ahmed Shanto in Chattogram, were killed by law enforcement agencies across the country that day.

The killings marked a turning point of the July Uprising that ultimately led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina within three weeks.

“The July uprising was not just a protest. It was the united resistance of the entire nation against one and a half decades of fascism, institutional corruption, plunder, enforced disappearances, killings, repression, and the denial of voting rights imposed on the people”, the Prime Minister said.

"I firmly believe that the blood of the martyrs can never be shed in vain. The immortal spirit of the July uprising is not only a source of pride in our history but also an inspiration for building our future”, Tarique said.

The Prime Minister said the country has now begun its journey toward democracy by following the path of the fearless martyrs who gave their lives to establish the rights of the people in the state and society. 

“We can repay the debt owed to the martyrs of the democracy movement only by building a safe, humane, self-reliant, and democratic Bangladesh for all citizens”, he said.