The foundation stone of the ‘July Memorial’, commemorating the martyrs of the historic July 2024 student-people uprising, was laid today at Osmani Udyan in Dhaka.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan formally inaugurated the ceremony, attended by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia and Local Government Division Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Zahidi.

The Tk 46.40 crore project, implemented by DSCC with funding from the Local Government Division, aims to honor the martyrs and uphold the spirit of the July uprising. The memorial will stand on a circular podium at the park’s center, symbolizing unity, sacrifice, and freedom.

The structure will feature eight rectangular columns surrounding a 90-foot central pillar, with two entrances inscribed with epitaphs honoring the martyrs. The complex will be landscaped with Krishnachura and native trees, representing resilience and remembrance.

Speaking as chief guest, Asif Mahmud said the project reflects deep respect for the martyrs of the July uprising. “Some quarters question the project’s budget not out of accountability, but political motives,” he remarked. “Funds once wasted under the previous regime are now being used for meaningful national causes.”

DSCC Administrator Shahjahan Mia said the corporation took the initiative to preserve the memory of the uprising when no one else did. He added that piling work is nearly complete and construction is expected to finish by December this year.

At the end of the event, the adviser offered prayers for the martyrs and planted a medicinal tree. Senior officials, engineers, journalists, and citizens from various sectors attended the ceremony.

MN/