The Blood of the Martyrs Cannot Be in Vain : Mostafa Jaglul Pasha Papel
August 5 is a day of both glory and sorrow in Bangladesh’s democratic history. It is not just a date—it is a chronicle of resistance written in the blood of countless martyrs. That blood cannot be in vain—this vow still resonates today as people continue to demand freedom and democracy with unwavering resolve. The months of July and August are marked in Bangladesh’s history as times of anguish and resistance. In 2018, these months bore witness to a terrifying wave of enforced disappearances, killings, torture, and oppression. In the face of state-sponsored terror and repression, thousands of ordinary citizens, students, youth, and working people took to the streets in solidarity. The ultimate sacrifice of those who bled in protest sowed the very seeds of today’s democratic spirit.
On this day, Mostafa Jaglul Pasha Papel, former Member Secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan North Jubo Dal (Youth Wing), paid deep tribute to the martyrs and said:
"The blood of the martyrs of August 5 cannot go in vain. The mass uprising they sparked was a unique chapter in our people's struggle for freedom. We will honor that sacrifice and continue the fight.”
He further stated:
"July and August were not only dark times of state repression but also the moments that lit the torch of resistance. The time has come once again to unite—to take to the field to fulfill the dreams of the martyrs.”
Papel affirmed that the blood spilled must serve as a proud lesson for future generations. He emphasized the need for history to record that injustice was never accepted on this soil. The message of August 5 continues to give us courage in our national journey toward establishing democracy and human rights. This day, built on the ultimate sacrifices of the martyrs, will remain eternally memorable in the political and social history of Bangladesh.
