Gono Odhikar Parishad to reject 'July Declaration'

The Gona Odhikar Parishad has announced its decision to reject the recently finalized ‘July Declaration’, citing the absence of dialogue and recognition of key stakeholders involved in the ongoing reform movement. The announcement was made at a press conference held Sunday at the party's central office in the Al Razi Complex, Purana Paltan.

Party General Secretary Md. Rashed Khan stated in a written briefing that the declaration, reportedly finalized by the interim government, was done without any consultation with those who actively participated in the mass uprising that began in response to the High Court’s June 5 verdict reinstating a 30% quota in government jobs.

“The July Declaration cannot be considered legitimate if it excludes the voices and sacrifices of those who led and participated in the movement,” Khan said. “July is not the property of any single group—it belongs to the people.”

He noted that the recent mass protests, which evolved from the anti-quota movement, are rooted in over a decade of resistance, citing previous movements such as the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, the 2015 anti-VAT protests by private university students, and the 2018 quota reform and safe roads movements.

“The claim that this uprising emerged within just 36 days ignores the long-standing struggle against systemic inequality,” Khan emphasized. “From students to religious scholars, from workers to the general public—everyone played a role in building this momentum.”

He recalled that in April 2018, following weeks of student protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had been compelled to declare in parliament that there would be no more quotas. That announcement, he argued, planted the seeds of courage across the country and paved the way for broader resistance.

Referring to the July 2018 deaths of two students in a road accident that triggered a national movement for road safety, Khan said, “The courage of young students fueled a fire for change, which has now grown into a nationwide demand for structural reform.”

At the press conference, party leaders criticized the interim government for unilaterally setting the date and content of the July Declaration without input from the movement's participants. They warned that any attempt to present a one-sided narrative would distort the historical significance of the 2024 uprising, much like how the legacy of 1971 has often been contested and politicized.

"Writing the July Declaration to appease one political faction would be a betrayal of the spirit of the revolution," Khan said.

The press conference was moderated by Higher Council member Abu Hanif. Other speakers included Senior Vice President Faruk Hasan, Senior Joint Secretary General Hasan Al Mamun, and council members Shakil Uzzaman, Shahidul Islam Fahim, Advocate Sarkar Nure Ershad Siddiqui, Joint Secretary General Zilu Khan, Assistant Office Secretary Shah Muhammad Sagar, and Dhaka divisional student leader Akhtaruzzaman Samrat.