Shibir expresses disappointment over July Declaration, calls for revision

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has expressed disappointment over the recently announced July Declaration, stating that it does not reflect the full aspirations of the nation.

Speaking to reporters after an event in Dhaka’s Narayanganj today (7 August), Shibir’s Central President Zahidul Islam said, “We had hoped that the July Declaration would be a comprehensive one. But we are somewhat disappointed. It does not reflect the full expectations we had.”

He criticised the omission of the anti-British movement in the Indian subcontinent and the lack of mention of the historic nine-point demands.

“The contributions of various stakeholders in the movement, including public and private universities, schools, colleges, madrasahs, journalists, and expatriate activists, were not included. We are disappointed by this and urge the government to reconsider the content of the declaration,” Zahidul added.

Addressing the recent controversy over Shibir’s exhibition at Dhaka University, he said, “It is unfortunate that those who constantly talk about freedom of expression were the ones who engaged in mob violence and forcefully removed the pictures. We exercised maximum patience to avoid creating a chaotic situation.”

Regarding allegations that the exhibition lacked permission from DU authorities, Zahidul dismissed the claims as false. “Some media outlets have reported misinformation. We did have written permission from the university, and the proctor himself acknowledged it. The event was held in accordance with the approval obtained well in advance.”