A Historic Revolution Bought With Lives and Limbs
As the month of July 2024 dawned, Bangladesh was suffering under more than a decade of autocratic rule. Thousands were languishing in prisons or faced persecution in the form of frivolous lawsuits, harassment, and torture. Citizens under the age of 35 had never voted in a contested election. The economy was faltering. Few predicted that over the next 36 days, brave students and their civil society supporters would topple this regime, though at a terrible cost of thousands of lost lives and limbs.
In early July, students began protesting civil service recruitment quotas that disadvantaged many young graduates from prized government jobs. When they were brutally suppressed, they regrouped and shifted their demands to include broad-based reform of the dysfunctional government. Again, they were killed and injured by the police, paramilitaries, and the violent student wing of the ruling party. Finally their demands were reduced to one: that the Prime Minister resign.
On August 5, 2024 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country in the face of a massive uprising against her dictatorial regime. A new beginning for Bangladesh dawned on August 8, when Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Chief Adviser (Interim Prime Minister) with the strong support of student leaders and the vast majority of the country’s citizens.
However, the revolution came at a great cost. Some 1,400 protesters were killed. Most of those who perished were the breadwinners for their families, or were expected to be for decades to come. More than 20,000 citizens were injured, many seriously. Thousands of them will never fully recover their lost limbs or their eyesight. Many face crippling medical bills that have forced them to deplete savings, sell assets, close businesses, or borrow. Some have deferred the care they need due to the costs involved.
The July Martyrs Memorial Foundation Responds
The mission of the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation (JSSF) is “to provide immediate healthcare, financial relief, and long-term support to the families of martyrs and injured, while preserving the legacy of the July revolution for future generations through education, advocacy, and sustainable initiatives.” As an important first step, it is disbursing Tk. 500,000 (US$4,200) to the families of those who were killed, and Tk. 100,000 (US$840) to those who were injured.
Its volunteer board, which is chaired by Professor Yunus, and its mostly volunteer staff are using exacting means to ensure that 100% of funds reach the intended beneficiaries according to the highest possible ethical standards. Its chief executive is Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, who is the twin brother of martyr Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho.
The Martyrs Who Deserve Honor and Support
One of Professor Yunus’ first acts after taking the oath of office was to visit the family of Abu Sayed, the iconic martyr whose act of peaceful defiance cost him his life while inspiring a nation. Professor Yunus then established a private foundation to compensate all the victims and their families, and provided it with $8.3 million, roughly one-fifth of what will be needed to meet the needs of all martyrs and victims.
The best-known Bangladeshi martyr was Abu Sayed, a brilliant student in the northern district of Rangpur. His family had sacrificed for years to ensure his education, with the hopes that he would succeed and support them. But his commitment to social justice led him to offer himself up as a sacrifice to the police by striking a now iconic pose of outstretched arms. He was shot dead, but his martyrdom inspired a nation. Read more about Abu Sayed here.
Nafisa Hossain Marwa was a dedicated female high school student whose father owned a small tea stall and invested all he could in her education. But she felt drawn to march to protest the autocratic regime and headed to Dhaka on August 5 to support the revolution. Minutes after talking to her father for the last time, Nafisa’s group was attacked by police and other forces, including the hated Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. She was at the front of the march when gunfire erupted, and she was shot and killed. Read more about Nasifa Hossain Marwa here.
Many more victims who were brutally attacked survived but are suffering from their injuries. For example, 35-year-old Dalil Uddin started his own small-scale garment business after working in the industry. On August 5, Dalil joined a protest led by students. Police fired indiscriminately at the crowd, and a one of their bullets struck Dalil near his right ear, exiting through his mouth. The impact shattered his teeth, gums, and tongue. Since then, Dalil has been unable to eat solid food or speak. His family has spent over Tk. 300,000 (US$2,500) on Dalil’s treatment as of early November, relying on savings and loans to cover expenses. Read more about Dalil Uddin here.
Another case is that of Sabbir, a university student in Rajshahi whose family’s economic situation forces him to work 10 hours per day, six days a week even while studying. On July 30, Sabbir became yet another victim of violence when members of Chhatra League severely beat and robbed him. He received basic medical care and returned home, where he was completely bedridden for 10 days. To meet the medical expenses, he and his pregnant wife have had to completely deplete their savings and go into debt. Because he could not take end of year exams, he lost all credit for his studies in 2024 and will have to start over in 2025. Read more about Sabbir here.
How You Can Help
Millions of people around the world observed and cheered the revolution against the autocratic regime in Bangladesh, and many wondered what they could do to help. Now, there is a way. You can contribute any amount to a fund set up by Myriad USA (a U.S.-based nonprofit) that will support JSSF so that it can help the families of the martyrs and the surviving victims to recover, and in so doing help the birth of a new Bangladesh that has won its second independence. These donations are tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers. (We are working with the Myriad network on giving that benefit to residents of other countries.)
For international donors wishing to make an online donation, click here. For U.S. donors wishing to send a check, they can do the following: Send a check made out to Myriad USA and be sure to write “Friends of July Shaheed Smrity Foundation” in the memo section of the check. Mail it to Myriad USA, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2400, New York, NY 10176. For information on other ways to give, click here. Residents of Bangladesh should visit the JSSF website to learn how they can get involved.
