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Academics and activists have urged all to tone down the celebration of the one year anniversary of the July uprising, saying that too many lives were lost in the struggle to overthrow the autocratic Awami League regime, while most of the demands remained unfulfilled.

Considering the loss of lives and so many people became disabled in the uprising, so many celebrations looked rather crude, they said on Saturday.

They also lamented that in the post-uprising period the flood of incidents of political tagging, bullying, mob violence and fear mired the country’s political atmosphere and people’s lives, saying that people’s unity should be the first priority.

To ensure a discrimination free and inclusive society they also urged continued conversations across the quarters and platforms. 

Their remarks came at a conference titled ‘Kailja Kapano 36 Din: July Gana-abhyutthan O Sangskritik Nirman’ (heart rending 36 days: July uprising and cultural construction).

Visual artists’ platform Drishyamadhyam Samaj organised the event at the National Museum in the capital to mark the first anniversary of the uprising. 

The event comprised a film festival, art exhibition, musical event and panel discussions participated in by renowned academics, artists and activists.

Shirin Parveen Haque, Shahidul Alam, Salimullah Khan, Firoz Ahmed, Sajjad Sharif, Samina Luthfa, Taslima Akhter, Munem Wasif, Ritu Sattar, Samsi Ara Zaman, Azmeri Haque Badhon and Umama Fatema, among others, attended the event.

Women rights activists and head of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission Shireen Parveen Haque said that the July women now disappeared from streets and stages.

‘Meeting with our youth leaders on the issues of women made me frustrated that they are also conservative,’ Shireen Parveen stated, adding that the spontaneous graffiti were inspiration of an inclusive Bangladesh, but now the government removed them and drew new lifeless wall-art.  
Shahidul Alam said that as an artist there is no alternative to fight against silence. 

‘Authorities gave grants and awards for depoliticisation of the art but people want to see contemporary political criticism in art and artists need to create them in time,’ Shahidul Alam said.  

Salimullah Khan said, ‘The uprising did not have a manifesto, so we cannot know what the post-uprising country will be.’