Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has announced that August 5 will officially be observed as Student-People Mass Uprising Day, marking one of the most pivotal events in the country’s recent history.
“It will be a public holiday from now on. The Council of Advisers will declare August 5 as a national day,” Farooki said during an event at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday (June 19).
The decision commemorates the massive, student-led uprising that brought down the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina on August 5 last year.
According to a UN fact-finding report released in February, over 1,400 people, including students, children, and ordinary citizens, were killed during the brutal government crackdown. Tens of thousands were injured, making it one of the bloodiest crackdowns in Bangladesh’s modern history.
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Just three days after the uprising, an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus took office, vowing to implement deep political and structural reforms before holding a free, fair, and inclusive election.
Farooki also announced that a month-long programme to commemorate the uprising will begin on July 1, culminating on August 5. “The main events will kick off on July 14,” he added, hinting at nationwide cultural and political observances to honor the sacrifices made by the youth and general public.
