Mourning mothers express despair over their slain sons during a remembrance gathering in Chattogram
In the heart of Chattogram, Bangladesh, a poignant gathering took place at the Circuit House conference room on 2 August. The Mothers of July, as they were called, assembled to demand justice for the injustice their sons stood against during the violent crackdown on protests that shook the nation in July 2024.
The event, organised by the Chattogram District Administration, served as a memorial and a call for accountability. Tears flowed freely and silence gripped the room as the grieving mothers shared their stories, their voices echoing the demand for justice for the deaths of their sons.
Ruby Akhter, mother of Engineer Omar, spoke of her son's dreams of a country where people could speak freely without fear. She shared how her son had responded to his father's advice to stay away from the protests, saying, "If we stay silent, nothing will ever change."
Each mother echoed this sentiment, their voices united in their quest for justice. The audience was left speechless by the raw emotion and determination displayed by the mothers.
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Ziauddin, in his address, called for a moral reckoning and institutional accountability. He emphasised the need for those responsible to be held accountable under the law, stating that the young individuals lost in July were the promise of the nation's future.
Farida Khanam, the Chattogram Deputy Commissioner, expressed her own grief for the families of the martyrs, promising to always stand by them and be there for them whenever they need. Mohammad Ziauddin, in his speech, reiterated the demand for justice for the deaths of the July martyrs, highlighting their local impact and importance in the city.
The event included a parent assembly and documentary screening at 4 pm, providing a platform for the families to share their experiences and for the public to bear witness to the events that transpired.
The July martyrs in Chattogram died during a large-scale violent crackdown by security forces against protests that began as a student movement against the quota system in government job recruitment. The unrest escalated into a broader anti-government uprising during July 16 to August 5, 2024, under the then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. Police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and affiliated party cadres used lethal force to suppress protesters, resulting in hundreds of deaths, including children and civilians.
The event contributed to Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure from Bangladesh and triggered national mourning and public holiday commemorations. The Mayor of Chattogram, Shahadat Hossain, has publicly vowed not to let the blood of the July martyrs be forgotten or wasted, highlighting the local impact and importance of these deaths in the city.
The event held at the Circuit House conference room, where the Mothers of July demanded justice, was not only a memorial but also a call for institutional accountability, as it was shown by Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Ziauddin in his address. The voice of the grieving mothers reached far beyond their personal losses, with politics and general news outlets reporting on the war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice issues that led to their sons' deaths.
Ruby Akhter's speech, among others, highlighted the need for a country where people could speak freely without fear, a sentiment that resonated with the public, adding fuel to the fire of the ongoing political discourse promoting freedom of speech and democracy in Bangladesh.
