BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie on Friday said the July uprising was not a spontaneous event, but a mass movement built on the sacrifice and sweat of many.

“The July movement didn’t happen suddenly, it was a people’s uprising shaped by everyone’s efforts and sacrifices,” Annie said while speaking at a discussion titled "The Role of Media and Political Leadership in Restoring Democracy," marking two decades of the Jagannath University Journalists’ Association (Jobisas).

“Those who dared to speak against fascists were the ones jailed and oppressed. People have been fighting this autocratic regime for years. I pay my respects to those who led the movement and those who were martyred,” he added.

The BNP leader accused deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina of introducing a “new culture of enforced disappearances” in Bangladesh.

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Annie said his party's movement is not only for elections but also for rebuilding the nation. “We will move the country forward by implementing Tarique Rahman’s 31-point plan,” he said.

Calling justice and reform a continuous process, he said that they seek justice for the crimes committed by the “fascist regime” and stressed the need for stronger unity.

“Fascism has disgraced the country. We believe a truly elected government will be formed through fair elections,” he added.

The event was presided over by Jobisas President Imran Hossain and moderated by its General Secretary Mahtab Hossain Limon.

Among others, the discussion was attended by Shafiqul Islam Masud, secretary of Dhaka South Unit of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami; Rashed Khan, general secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad; Muhammad Nizamul Haque Naeem, general secretary of Bangladesh Development Party; Monira Sharmin, joint convener of Jatiya Nagorik Party; and Kader Gani Chowdhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists.