Title: Mismanagement, Historical Distortion, and Disrespect Mark ‘Private University
Resistance Day’ Event
On July 18, the much-anticipated “Private University Resistance Day” program was held at
the Hatirjheel Amphitheatre, organized by the Cultural Ministry in collaboration with a group
of student leaders. Designed to commemorate the pivotal role of private university students
during the July 2024 uprising, the event ended up sparking widespread criticism over poor
planning, exclusionary narrative choices, and blatant disrespect to protest victims.
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A Venue Unfit for the People
The choice of Hatirjheel Amphitheatre proved problematic from the outset. The venue,
though visually appealing, could not accommodate the size of the crowd, leading to
excessive pressure on attendees and potential safety hazards. In addition, no designated
workspace was provided for press and media personnel, making reporting difficult and
undermining the visibility of the event in public discourse.
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A Documentary That Distorted History
The program opened with a documentary that aimed to highlight student involvement in the
July movement. However, instead of unifying, the film immediately alienated large segments
of the audience. Several major institutions, most notably East West University, were
excluded entirely from the narrative—with no interviews, visual content, or acknowledgment
of their frontline contributions.
The documentary faced a serious allegation from Bappy Rana Howlader, a frontline
protester and professional photographer, who stated that his photos and videos were used
without his consent or any credit. “This is not just unethical—it’s theft,” he told reporters on
site. “My work, my footage from the ground—used without informing me. I am the one who
have most of the exclusive photo and video in my collection.
This is not how we honor a revolution; this is how we exploit it.”
Attempts by some students to protest this exclusion were shut down by event marshals,
reflecting a concerning culture of censorship at an event meant to celebrate freedom of
expression and resistance.
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No Tribute to the Shohid or Injured Students
Perhaps the most painful omission was the complete lack of formal recognition for martyred
(shohid) and injured (ahoto) students who were directly impacted during the July protests.
Their names were not mentioned, no visual tribute was offered, and no moment of silence
was observed.
For many in the crowd, this was a heartbreaking betrayal. As one attendee put it, “We came
here expecting remembrance. Instead, they buried the memory of those who gave their
blood for this cause.” This exclusion alone turned the program into an act of historical
distortion (etihas bikriti)—a rewriting of the very events it claimed to commemorate.
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Chaos on Stage and a Breakdown in Order
The cultural portion of the evening further discredited the organizers. During a musical
performance featuring songs from the movement, a rapper insulted the audience by yelling
“audience chudi” from the stage, prompting shock and anger. Water bottles were thrown in
retaliation, and panic spread throughout the amphitheatre.
Though student organizers attempted to regain control, the situation spiraled into chaos,
forcing the program to be paused temporarily.
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Drone Show Mishandled
The event’s closing highlight—a symbolic drone light show—was postponed twice, first due
to interference by a civilian drone, and later due to poor coordination between the technical
team and organizers. By then, audience morale had already plummeted, and the symbolic
weight of the show was lost.
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A Shameful Missed Opportunity
In its totality, the program reflected a profound failure on the part of the Cultural Ministry and
the student organizers. Rather than honoring the resistance, the event diluted and
misrepresented it—silencing critical voices, excluding key contributors, and ignoring the
sacrifices made by students who risked their lives on the frontlines.
This was more than mismanagement. This was a betrayal of history and the memory of a
movement that demanded justice, unity, and truth. Events like this must be executed with
care, integrity, and accountability. Sadly, this one was not.