July Memorial Monument to be built on DU campus

The University of Dhaka (DU) has decided to build a ‘July Memorial Monument’ on its campus in memory of those martyred during the 2024 July Mass Uprising.

The foundation stone of the monument is scheduled to be laid on August 5 as part of the university’s observance of the second anniversary of the mass uprising.

The decision was taken at a preparatory meeting held today (27 July) at the Professor Abdul Matin Chowdhury Virtual Classroom to finalise programmes marking the anniversary of the July Mass Uprising, said a press release.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam chaired the meeting which reviewed the overall preparations, progress of various subcommittees and implementation plans for the daylong programmes scheduled for 5 August.

As part of the commemorative initiatives, the university will also establish a ‘July Corner’ at the Dhaka University Central Library.

The corner will preserve clothes and other belongings used by the July martyrs along with video footage, photographs and other relevant archival materials documenting the uprising.

A discussion will be held on 5 August at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) auditorium, while a milad and doa mahfil will be organised after Asr prayers at the university’s central mosque.

The university will screen documentaries on the July movement through display installations at different points across the campus.

It will also give recognition to the students, teachers, officers and employees who participated in the movement, subject to verification of appropriate evidence.

To preserve graffiti created during the July movement, walls across the campus will be repainted, with cleaning and restoration work already underway.

The publication of a souvenir containing experiences of students, teachers, officers and employees involved in the movement continues.

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Dr Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, Treasurer Prof Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, deans of different faculties, provosts of residential halls, the Proctor, the Acting Registrar, and heads of offices and conveners and members of various subcommittees were present at the preparatory meeting.

Besides, different halls and academic units of the university have chalked out programmes for 26 July-03 August to observe the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising.

The halls and units include Shamsunnahar Hall, Kabi Jasimuddin Hall, the Department of Linguistics, the Department of Information Science and Library Management, the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the Department of Clinical Psychology, the Department of English, and the Institute of Social Welfare and Research.

Shamsunnahar Hall organised an event titled “Smritite July” (July in memory) on Sunday evening featuring a quiz competition, documentary screening, reminiscences, poetry recitation, dance performances and prize distribution.

Speaking as the chief guest, the DU Vice-Chancellor said the new Bangladesh achieved through the sacrifice of the July uprising martyrs must be transformed into a discrimination-free and justice-based country.

He said the university has undertaken several initiatives to preserve the memory of the July Revolution including tuition fee waivers for injured students, preservation of graffiti and construction of the memorial monument.