Minister disappointed as half of chairs found empty at Abu Sayed's memorial event

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan has expressed disappointment over the lower than expected attendance at the memorial service for Abu Sayed, who was shot dead by police at Park Mor in front of Begum Rokeya University during the July uprising on 16 July 2024.

He said: "I had expected the university campus to be filled with people for the memorial service for Abu Sayed, but it did not happen."

He made the remarks at the memorial service organized at the university's Abu Sayed Square on Thursday (July 16) afternoon.

Citing a student's statement, the minister said: "I thought that no matter how hot it is in this square today, the students and teachers of the university will come together to remember Abu Sayed. There will be no place to hold a til. But I am disappointed."

He asked: "Why didn't Abu Sayed's classmates make this event more lively? Why are half the chairs empty? It is difficult not only for me, but for all of you."

The minister further said, it is not enough to stand on the stage and give beautiful speeches, the need of the hour is to implement those speeches.

He said that if this square were full of people today, Abu Sayed would have found peace even from his grave. He might have said, how are my classmates remembering me.

Reiterating the government's commitment to implementing the spirit of the July Movement, Ahmed Azam Khan said, under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, a 'July Directorate' has been established to preserve the memory of the martyrs of the July Movement and implement the spirit. Various demands of the movement will be implemented through this Directorate.

When asked about the reason for the low presence at the memorial meeting, the university's Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shawkat Ali did not comment on the matter but highlighted the university's various development activities.

Rangpur-3 MP Mahbubar Rahman Belal, MP Rezeka Sultana Fensy, University Grants Commission member Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun and many others, including Abu Sayed's father Maqbul Hossain, were present.