Dhaka: Bangladesh’s Awami League has strongly criticised an ordinance introduced by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which recognises the July 2024 movement as an “uprising.”
The party has called the move a calculated attempt to distort history and legitimise what it describes as an “unconstitutional conspiracy.”
Ordinance No. 30, 2025, issued to preserve the “history and ideals” of the July movement and provide support to families of those killed or injured, has been labelled by the Awami League as a deliberate effort to undermine the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War.
The party argued that the creation of a new category called “July Fighters” diminishes the sacrifices of Liberation War heroes, for whom the term “fighter” holds deep national significance.
In a statement, the Awami League accused Yunus and his allies of using the ordinance to establish a parallel narrative, calling the July 2024 movement a media-driven propaganda campaign fuelled by foreign NGOs.
“The so-called uprising was no mass movement but an orchestrated coup designed to destabilize the elected government of Sheikh Hasina,” the party said.
The Awami League also alleged that Yunus had admitted to relying on international connections rather than domestic support, reflecting an “authoritarian mindset.”
The movement, which led to significant violence, including the deaths of police officers and the destruction of public property, was described by the party as an attack on the nation’s stability and constitutional framework.
The ordinance’s language, including references to martyrs, has further inflamed tensions.
The Awami League argued that using the term “martyr” for those involved in the July movement insults the legacy of those who died fighting for Bangladesh’s independence.
The party cited expert opinions indicating that many victims bore sniper wounds, suggesting external involvement in the violence.
The removal of former Home Affairs Advisor Sakhawat Hossain after he questioned the origins of military-grade sniper bullets used during the clashes has been highlighted as evidence of a deeper conspiracy.
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Calling for the immediate repeal of the ordinance, the Awami League demanded a ban on terms like “July Martyr” and “July Fighter” and reaffirmed the ideals of the Liberation War as the nation’s sole guiding principles.
The party denounced the ordinance as a tool for destabilization, accusing it of being a foreign-backed effort to create a “shadow state” within Bangladesh.
The Awami League concluded that national recognition and resources should be reserved for genuine acts of patriotism and warned against using the national treasury to rehabilitate individuals it views as conspirators.
