President condemns July Documentary for excluding martyr Abu Sayeed

President Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has said that any documentary made on the July Mass Uprising that does not include the image of martyr Abu Sayeed cannot be called a documentary. At the same time, he added that a photograph of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia should also have been included.

He made these remarks today (August 5) while addressing a state function organized at the China Friendship Conference Center in the capital to mark July Martyrs’ Day. The President said that the documentary contained many mistakes.

“The first mistake I noticed is that there is no picture of Abu Sayeed. Abu Sayeed is the embodiment and symbol of the revolution. If his picture is not there, then it is not a documentary. There is also no picture of Khaleda Zia in the documentary. The State Minister for Liberation War Affairs has apologized over the matter. After that, we should have remained calm. It is not desirable to hold on to the issue and stage a walkout as if it were a parliament.”

He further said, “This government is your elected government. If we make mistakes, you should help correct them. We cannot become the Awami League. The Awami League has no sense of shame.”

Earlier, members of martyrs’ families and July fighters protested, alleging that the documentary on the July Mass Uprising shown at the event failed to properly portray key events, the sacrifices of the martyrs, and various chapters of the movement.

The situation inside the auditorium became tense in the presence of the President. As soon as the documentary screening ended, protests erupted from different parts of the auditorium.

Members of martyrs’ families and July fighters stood up and voiced their objections loudly.  They alleged that the documentary did not adequately present the true history of the July Mass Uprising, its major developments, and the sacrifices made by the martyrs. At one stage, the entire auditorium descended into uproar.