Government decides to declare Aug 5 a public holiday to mark July Uprising

The government has decided to declare Aug 5 a public holiday to mark the date the student-led public uprising toppled Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government.

The decision was finalised at a special meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday.

Nine advisors attended the meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

After the meeting, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy: "Programmes will be held from the 1st of July, but the main events will begin on the 14th of July and continue until the 5th of August."

"The goal is to bring back the experience of all of Bangladesh coming together that we saw during the July-August Movement. We have that experience. We just have to reinforce it."

He said, "Many programmes will be announced on the occasion. For now, we are informing you that Aug 5 will be declared a public holiday as student-people mass uprising day. This holiday will be celebrated every year from now on."

Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief advisor, said: "A committee was formed in today's meeting to discuss the autonomy of Bangladesh Betar and BTV."

"The Media Reform Commission's report noted that when television licenses were previously handed out, most of them were granted to serve the ideology of one political party. That is how the licences were granted. They will review what the policies will be for granting TV licences in the future."

He said, "The July Proclamation is a demand of the students and the people. A committee has been formed so that this proclamation can be declared before Aug 5.

“Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud has been assigned to lead the committee. Some other advisors will work under the leadership of Wahiduddin Mahmud Sir. They will speak to the political parties and quickly issue the proclamation."