On July 18, 2025, a program was held to commemorate “Private University Resistance Day,” highlighting the contributions of various private universities to the July Mass Uprising in 2024. However, the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) was noticeably omitted, causing significant anger among its students.
In the context of the July Mass Uprising, the role of student activism was crucial in shaping public discourse and mobilizing support.
It’s important to note that on July 16, 2024, at 10 AM, BUBT was the first private university to initiate a sit-in protest at Mirpur-10 Circle, marking the beginning of the movement. Students took to the streets, joined by their peers from nearby educational institutions. During the protests, students faced attacks, university gates were closed, surveillance camera footage was handed over to the police, and other challenging situations arose. Participants even claim that two BUBT students were martyred during the movement.
These events were pivotal to the July Mass Uprising, showcasing the determination and bravery of the students involved.
Reflections on the July Mass Uprising
However, at yesterday’s program, BRAC University was presented as the movement’s initiator. While experiences, interviews, and video footage from students of various universities were showcased, BUBT’s name or contributions were nowhere to be found. Universities like Daffodil and ULAB were mentioned, but BUBT was completely absent.
The narrative surrounding the July Mass Uprising must include all key players to accurately reflect the historical context.
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This has led to intense reactions from students on social media. Many have posted comments such as,
আজকে যা হইলো, এইটা একটা লজ্জা, ধিক্কার ও প্রহসন। হিপোক্রেসি at its peak!
Some have even labeled it as historical distortion and disregard for those who sacrificed in the movement. Many also claim that BRAC University received disproportionate focus, which clearly indicates bias.
One student angrily posted,
BUBT আন্দোলনের সূচনা করেছিলো, ছাত্ররা গুলি খেলো, শহীদ হলো, অথচ ইতিহাস থেকে নামটাই মুছে ফেলা হলো। এর দায়ভার কার?
Students believe that the organizers and relevant individuals acted with bias, attempting to erase BUBT’s history. Many have also claimed this incident is a “conspiracy by political opportunists.
This perceived erasure of contributions is part of a broader conversation about the legacy of the July Mass Uprising and its impact on society.
