Hasnat Abdullah, the Chief Organizer of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) for the southern region, expressed concern over the lack of formal recognition or constitutional framework surrounding the July Uprising, which he believes is leading to frequent disregard and disrespect for this pivotal event in Bangladesh’s political transformation. In a Facebook post late Monday (April 21), Hasnat responded to a recent controversy involving Dhaka University Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy, who initially referred to the July Uprising as “so-called” but later issued an apology.

In his post, Hasnat acknowledged the Chhatra Dal leader’s willingness to admit his mistake without justifying it, praising this as a rare display of political honesty. He emphasized that such integrity should be encouraged and practiced more widely in Bangladesh’s political culture.

Hasnat lamented that even months after what he calls the emergence of a “Second Republic,” there has been no formal announcement or constitutional incorporation of the revolution. This absence, he says, allows individuals to belittle the sacrifices of countless ordinary citizens who played a part in the movement.

Drawing from international precedents, Hasnat cited Tunisia’s 2014 constitution, which directly honors the Jasmine Revolution and its martyrs, as well as Bolivia’s 2009 constitution that emerged from a democratic and cultural revolution. He also referenced Nepal’s post-monarchy transformation, noting that the 2015 constitution explicitly acknowledges the people’s movement that led to the fall of the monarchy.

He argued that across the world, revolutions are legitimized and protected through constitutional recognition to ensure their spirit isn’t undermined in the future. He urged Bangladeshi authorities to urgently enshrine the July Uprising in the constitution, warning that the cost of a neglected revolution could be far greater than the nation can afford.