The foundation stone of the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Memorial was laid in front of Gate No. 1 of Begum Rokeya University on Wednesday (July 16). In his honour, a Street Memory Stamp, the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Gate, and a museum were also inaugurated.
These installations were formally inaugurated by Law Adviser Professor Dr Asif Nazrul, Education Adviser Professor Dr CR Abrar, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq E Azam, and Abu Sayeed’s father, Mokbul Hossain, around 10:30 am.
To mark the first death anniversary of Abu Sayeed—the first martyr of the anti-discrimination movement—and to observe "July Martyrs’ Day," the university authorities have organised a series of commemorative events.
Earlier in the morning, Vice-Chancellor Professor Shawkat Ali, along with faculty members and administrative staff, visited Abu Sayeed’s grave. Later, a mourning rally comprising teachers and students paraded through the campus.
On this day last year, Abu Sayeed, a student of the 12th batch of the English department, was martyred in front of Gate No. 1 of the university while facing police gunfire during a protest. His death sparked widespread protests across the country, culminating in a mass uprising that led to the overthrow of the Awami League government on August 5.