Professor Dr. S M Abdul Razzak, Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), said, “To build a corruption-free and equitable society, we must embrace the spirit and goals of the July Movement.” He made this remark on Tuesday (July 15) while delivering the keynote speech as the chief guest at a discussion event titled Reviving the July Uprising, held in the university's hall room.

Earlier, at 10:30 AM, the Vice-Chancellor inaugurated the event in front of RUET’s administrative building. This was followed by a photo exhibition on the July Movement and a screening of a documentary on the July 24 massacre.

At the beginning of his speech, the Vice-Chancellor paid tribute to the martyrs of the July Movement, prayed for the forgiveness of their souls, and solemnly remembered those who were injured and participated in the movement.

He stated, “Victory does not come just by protest. As Napoleon Bonaparte, leader of the French Revolution, once said, the world has suffered more not because of evil people, but because of those who witnessed injustice and stayed silent. When an oppressive regime grips a country and commits injustice and persecution, it is not just the actions of the regime, but the inaction of those we consider ‘good’ that allows the tyrants to grow more ruthless. For the past decade and a half, we have witnessed a culture where freedom of speech was suppressed. It became difficult to remove the authoritarian government because the anger of students and the public couldn’t be properly organized. There was a lack of leadership needed to channel that anger. However, through the student-public movement, that gap in leadership was eventually filled. Through their courage, we achieved victory. To build a corruption-free and equitable society, we must embrace the spirit and goals of the July Movement.”

The event was presided over by Professor Dr. Md. Robiul Islam Sarkar, President of the Reviving the July Uprising organizing committee and Director of the Students' Welfare Office.

Special guests included:

Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Islam, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Professor Dr. Bashir Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Kader Jilani, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Humanities

Professor Dr. H. M. Rasel, Director of the Planning and Development Office

Also present were teachers, students, and officials who participated in the July Movement. Among the attendees were Acting Registrar Arif Ahmmad Chowdhury, various faculty deans, all directors, department heads, office and section heads, as well as teachers, students, officers, and staff.

Note: On Thursday (July 17), the second day of the event, the following programs will be held at the administrative building:

11:00 AM: Recitation from the Holy Quran

11:15 AM: July Storytelling — reflections and memories of guests, faculty members, and students in remembrance of the July 24 uprising

Educational support will be provided to injured fighters of July 24