Dhaka, August 3 (V7N) – Thousands of student activists gathered at Shahbagh on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 July–August uprising that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Organized by the Jatiyatabadi Chatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the rally drew large crowds despite heavy rain and tight security.
 
The program began at 3:16 pm with recitations from the Quran and the national anthem. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman addressed the gathering virtually from London, while senior BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was present in person. JCD president Rakibul Islam chaired the event, with secretary general Nasir Uddin Nasir serving as moderator.
 
The rally emphasized youth engagement in politics, upcoming elections, and a renewed call for democratic reforms. Tarique Rahman urged first-time voters to support BNP, while Mirza Fakhrul warned against political division and pledged resistance against authoritarianism.
 
Simultaneously, the National Citizen Party (NCP), a new political platform emerging from last year’s protests, held a parallel event at the Central Shaheed Minar. NCP convener Nahid Islam presented a 24-point manifesto, calling for a new constitution and the establishment of a “Second Republic.”
 
The month-long observance of the uprising included cultural programs, debates, art exhibitions, and street mobilizations. It culminated in today’s mass gatherings, echoing last year’s demands for political change, which led to Sheikh Hasina's departure and the formation of a transitional government under Muhammad Yunus.
 
Police maintained a heavy presence around Shahbagh, and no major incidents were reported.
 
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