National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam demanded that the proposed July Memorial Museum be opened to the public by August 5, warning that supporters would enter the facility themselves if it was not inaugurated by then.
He made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to reporters after visiting the mass grave of those killed during the July 2024 Uprising at Rayerbazar in the capital.
Nahid urged the government to take immediate steps to preserve the memory of the July uprising. “The government must take immediate steps to preserve the memories related to the July Uprising,” he said, adding, “If the July Memorial Museum is not inaugurated by August 5, the people will open it themselves and enter.”
Expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of judicial proceedings relating to the July violence, he said the investigation and trial process was progressing slowly and should be expedited.
“The investigation and trial of the cases are progressing slowly. This process must be completed more quickly,” he said, demanding that those allegedly involved in the killing of Osman Hadi be brought back to Bangladesh to face trial.
Nahid also called for the return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying she should be brought back to the country to face trial. He added that any sentence should be carried out in accordance with the judicial process.
Referring to Hasanul Haque Inu, the NCP convener alleged that the former minister had acted as “one of the aides” of Sheikh Hasina. He said the existing 10-year sentence against Inu was inadequate and expressed hope that a higher court would impose a harsher punishment on appeal.
Addressing the government, Nahid said commemorating the July Uprising symbolically would not be sufficient. He urged the authorities to implement the July Charter, honour the referendum verdict and undertake necessary state reforms.
He also noted that although the second anniversary of the July uprising was approaching, the government had yet to announce any official programme to mark the occasion, expressing hope that such a programme would be announced soon.
