Prayer Held in New York Honoring Martyrs of July Uprising

A prayer service commemorating the martyrs of the July mass uprising was held on Tuesday evening at the Jackson Heights Islamic Center Mosque in New York. The event was organized by “Patriots of Bangladesh: The July Spirit,” drawing participation from prominent expatriate community leaders and rights activists.

The gathering included prayers led by Imam Maulana Abu Sadiq and featured speeches from expatriate leaders who paid tribute to those killed during the movement. They emphasized the importance of upholding democracy and resisting external aggression.

“We want a peaceful, democratic Bangladesh—free from revenge politics and foreign influence,” said one speaker. Calls were made to unite against what they termed Indian aggression and to protect Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus from political harassment.

Political analyst Abdus Sabur highlighted the role of Bangladeshi expatriates in global protest movements during July and August. “We stood in front of the UN, the White House, and other symbolic places to support the anti-fascist cause,” he stated.

Speakers also demanded the immediate declaration of a “July Charter” recognizing the sacrifices of expatriates, support for the families of those injured or killed, and the restoration of voting rights for non-resident Bangladeshis. Other demands included ending airport harassment and resuming Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ direct flights between Dhaka and New York.

Other attendees included A.S.M. Rahmat Ullah Bhuiyan (International Secretary, Asia Human Rights Commission, U.S. Chapter), community activists Md. Javed Uddin, Khalkur Rahman, Zakir Hawlader, Delwar Hossain Shipon, Md. Hossain Ahmed, Alam Sarker, Abdul Kader (Chairman, Patriots of Bangladesh: The July Spirit), Vice Chairman Hasan Siddique, community leader Monirul Islam Monir, Noab Hossain (Manager, Sonali Exchange Jackson Heights), and Zahirul Haque Chowdhury (Member, Astoria Welfare Society), among others.