Bangladesh has a history of rising against authoritarian rule, but struggles to bring about lasting structural changes from popular uprisings, according to speakers at an event yesterday. They drew parallels between the mass uprisings of 1969 and July 2024.
During the 10th session of The Daily Star Itihas Adda, themed “The Unfulfilled Mass Aspirations of Mass Uprisings,” held at The Daily Star Centre, former caretaker government adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman highlighted the challenge of post-uprising periods. He emphasized the importance of addressing the aftermath, which he referred to as the unresolved “day after.”
Rahman pointed out that the uprisings in 1969, 1990, and 2024 all aimed to challenge authoritarian rule, albeit in different contexts. While the first two movements were directed against military regimes, the July 2024 uprising targeted authoritarianism under civilian leadership.
He cautioned against oversimplifying authoritarianism as solely associated with military rule, noting its presence in civilian governments. Rahman stressed the need for critical self-assessment post-uprising, highlighting that failure to do so would be unjust to those who sacrificed their lives.
Additionally, he discussed the challenges posed by a resilient bureaucracy that could impede reform efforts due to a lack of understanding about the functioning of the state.
Academician Subho Basu contextualized the 1969 uprising within a global framework, citing the socio-economic disparities that fueled the movement. He drew parallels with the situation preceding the July 2024 events, where economic progress masked underlying structural issues like youth unemployment and rising living costs.
Professor Syeed Ferdous from Jahangirnagar University emphasized the ongoing nature of mass uprisings, cautioning against premature assessments of the July 2024 movement. He highlighted the escalation of violence in recent uprisings and questioned the high toll of casualties in driving political change.
Umama Fatema, former spokesperson of Students Against Discrimination, underscored the importance of documenting the authentic history of the 2024 uprising, emphasizing the need to capture lived experiences and not reduce the events to partisan narratives or referendum outcomes.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam shared his personal experience of participating in the 1969 movement, underscoring the unity among different student organizations and the broader community. He expressed hope that the recommendations outlined in the July charter would be implemented to bridge the gap between decision-making and execution.
The event also featured musical and poetic performances by Laisa Binte Kamal and Mashrur Shakil, respectively, and was moderated by The Daily Star journalist Emran Mahfuz.
