Shibir slams exclusion of key historical movements

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has expressed dissatisfaction with the recently unveiled July Declaration, claiming that it falls short of embodying the full aspirations and historical contributions of the nation.

Speaking to reporters after an event in Narayanganj, Shibir Central President Zahidul Islam said, "We had hoped that the July Declaration would be a comprehensive one. But we are somewhat disappointed. It does not reflect the full expectations we had."

He specifically criticised the declaration for omitting key historical elements such as the anti-British movement in the Indian subcontinent and the historic nine-point demands. "The contributions of various stakeholders in the movement - including public and private universities, schools, colleges, madrasas, journalists, and expatriate activists - were not included. We are disappointed by this and urge the government to reconsider the content of the declaration," Zahidul added.

Commenting on the recent controversy surrounding Shibir's photo exhibition at Dhaka University, Zahidul Islam condemned the forceful removal of exhibition materials by opposing student groups. "It is unfortunate that those who constantly talk about freedom of expression were the ones who engaged in mob violence and forcefully removed the pictures. We exercised maximum patience to avoid creating a chaotic situation," he said.

Addressing allegations that the exhibition was held without permission from Dhaka University authorities, Shibir president rejected the claims as false. "Some media outlets have reported misinformation. We did have written permission from the university, and the proctor himself acknowledged it. The event was held in accordance with the approval obtained well in advance," Zahidul asserted.

Shibir has called upon the authorities to ensure a fair and inclusive representation of all historical contributions in national declarations and to uphold the principles of freedom of expression for all political and student groups.