The Awami League condemns Ordinance No. 30, 2025, issued by the Yunus-led interim government, calling it a propaganda tool that distorts the Liberation War’s legacy. The party demands its repeal, arguing that recognising the July 2024 movement undermines national history and poses a threat to Bangladesh’s constitutional integrity.
The ruling Awami League has fiercely criticised Ordinance No. 30 of 2025, issued by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, accusing it of being a “political propaganda document” aimed at rewriting the nation’s history. The Ordinance, passed recently, seeks to grant official recognition to the July 2024 movement as a “mass uprising,” honouring the deceased as martyrs and referring to them as “July Fighters.”
Calling the move an “unconstitutional and unethical conspiracy,” the Awami League argues that such recognition threatens the very foundation of Bangladesh’s history and undermines the legacy of the Liberation War of 1971. The party’s statement labelled the ordinance a “blueprint for destabilisation,” accusing Yunus and his allies of attempting to create a shadow administrative state parallel to the existing government.
The Ordinance declares that the July 2024 movement was rooted in opposition to “systematic oppression,” drawing parallels with the Liberation War. It proposes preserving the ideals of the July movement, providing welfare and rehabilitation for the families of the victims, and officially calling those who died “martyrs.”
However, the Awami League has rejected this narrative outright, stating, “Martyrs die for the country, not for conspiracies.” They argue that granting such terms to those involved in the July 2024 unrest is a gross distortion of national history and an insult to those who fought for independence. “The term ‘Shaheed’ is sacred, and must not be diluted by political agendas,” said the party.
The party also raised serious questions regarding the circumstances of the deaths during the July movement. According to their statement, most of those killed were shot in the head or neck — indicators of sniper fire, which, they say, could not have come from the police. Medical specialists from the Neuroscience Hospital, including Fuad Galib and Shamsul Arefin, confirmed fatal wounds consistent with military-grade sniper rifles. Weapon analyst Abdul Haque corroborated these findings. The Awami League alleged that the use of such weapons points to a “coordinated coup attempt.”
Further intensifying the accusation, the party mentioned the sudden removal of former Home Affairs Advisor Sakhawat Hossain from his position after he questioned the origin of 7.62mm bullets used during the incident. “The very next day, he was sacked — indicating the interim regime had something to hide,” the statement read.
Describing the July 2024 movement as a “media-fueled propaganda operation,” the Awami League said it was orchestrated by foreign NGOs and corporate entities seeking to topple former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s elected government. “There was no mass base — this was a silent coup, with Yunus at its centre. He even claimed, ‘Even if I don’t have popular support, I have international connections.’ That speaks volumes about his authoritarian mindset,” the party declared.
The party criticised the creation of a new term, “July Fighters,” claiming it devalues the honour and dignity of those who fought in the Liberation War. “The fighter title belongs to the freedom fighters of 1971. No new class of fighters should be created to serve political interests.”
| Also Read: Iran executes alleged Mossad spy amid rising Israel tensions |
According to the Awami League, the Ordinance is part of a broader effort by “Yunus-aligned, anti-liberation elements” to misappropriate national history and establish an alternative narrative that aligns with foreign agendas. They accused this group — made up of political opportunists from both the left and right — of exploiting state resources to reward conspirators and sow national instability.
The party concluded by demanding the immediate repeal of the Ordinance and a complete ban on politically loaded labels like “July Martyr” and “July Fighter.” “Only the ideals of the Liberation War can define our national identity. Any attempt to rewrite this is a betrayal of the Constitution and the people,” it stated.
