At the Droho Jatra 2025 rally on Saturday, noted economist Anu Muhammad accused Bangladesh’s interim government of following a “reverse path” by maintaining controversial policies and striking secret foreign agreements reminiscent of the previous administration.
The national anthem played at the Central Shaheed Minar, but nobody sang. The silence coming from the mix of activists and academics was deafening. This was more than just a memorial; it was a quiet protest. A full year had passed since the uprising, and you could feel that the initial revolutionary hope had completely given way to a bitter sense of letdown.
Anu Muhammad, who used to teach at Jahangirnagar University, summed it up well. He said the government basically broke its promise to the people. He wanted to know why the administration was so keen on carrying on with Sheikh Hasina’s old projects, especially the plan to give foreign interests control of the Chittagong port.
He also criticized a lack of transparency on major contracts, pointing to reports of an LNG import deal signed abroad without a tender and a purchase agreement for 25 Boeing aircraft that even Biman Bangladesh Airlines had not publicly acknowledged.
“The government is buying unnecessary weapons from the United States and entering secret agreements that serve others’ interests, not ours,” he said. He added that non-disclosure agreements keep the public in the dark.
Speakers at the rally echoed his concerns. Mikel Chakma, a participant in the July uprising, said they had gained “nothing” from their sacrifices. Abdur Rob, whose son was killed in the protests, demanded justice for all the martyrs.
Anu Muhammad also challenged the government’s rhetoric against Indian dominance, questioning why contracts such as the Ambani agreement, the Rampal power plant deal, and the transit treaty with India had not been canceled. He described these as harmful to Bangladesh’s national interest.
The speeches ended, and the march began. As the crowd set off from Shaheed Minar, what really caught your eye was the banner leading the way. It was just a simple list of names—the roll call of everyone lost in the July uprising.
The procession wound its way through Dhaka University and Katabon before finally coming to a stop.
Organizers said Droho Jatra 2025 aims to dismantle the “fascist state framework,” seek justice for the 2024 mass killings, and confront emerging neo-fascist movements.
