Impressions from the photographic exhibition.
| © PR Team, North South UniversityTogether with the North South University (NSU) in Dhaka and the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, the ABI organised a dialogue and three-day photo exhibition from August 6-9, marking one year since the July Uprisings of 2024 in Bangladesh. Organised by the university's Center for Peace Studies (CPS), the event focused on the role of youth in Bangladesh's democratic transition. 380 people attended, amongst them the leaders of Bangladesh's political parties and activist movements, families of martyred NSU-students, and Dr. Bernd Spanier, Chargé d'Affaires of the European Union to Bangladesh. The event has received broad public and political attention and was widely covered in both digital and print media.
The exhibition was inaugurated by A. K. Kashem, member of the NSU Board of Trustees. Featuring the work of renowned photojournalists alongside contributions from NSU students, the exhibition offered a compelling visual timeline of the July Revolution, capturing moments of courage, resilience, and unity.
The event drew significant public interest.
| © PR Team, North South UniversityFollowing the exhibition, CPS convened the dialogue “One Year On: Revisiting the Role of Youth and Bangladesh’s Transition Towards Democracy”, featuring contributions from civil society figures, academics, legal experts, and victims’ families. Discussions highlighted the courage of student protesters, the need for constitutional reform, and the enduring impact of the uprising on Bangladesh’s political consciousness.
Notable voices included Dr. Asif Nazrul, who praised the youth-led movement as an “ongoing process,” and barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, who reflected on his own experience with enforced disappearance and called for empathy beyond political categories. EU representative Dr. Bernd Spanier emphasized the significance of pushing a transformation of political culture. Mrs. Bilkis Zaman, mother of martyred student Tanvin and Guest of Honor, spoke through her grief, imploring that no other mother should bear such loss, and insisting that justice must prevail.
News outlet The Daily Star reported on the event as a "moment of reflection on the sacrifices and aspirations tied to Bangladesh's ongoing democratic journey, with speakers agreeing on the importance of youth participation, memory, and institutional reform in shaping the country's future."
Additionally, a full broadcast of the event has been made available to the public by CPS.