North South University (NSU) took center stage in the national discourse on democratic resilience and resistance to autocracy with a timely panel discussion titled “Democratic Resilience and Breakdown of Autocracy in Bangladesh – The Case of the July Uprising in 2024.” Organized by NSU’s Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG).
Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of NSU, chaired the session. The panel discussion featured a distinguished panel, including Dr. Mubashar Hasan, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oslo and Adjunct Fellow at the Humanitarian and Development Research Initiative (HADRI) at Western Sydney University; Professor Arild Engelsen Ruud, an expert on South Asian Studies from the University of Oslo; Munim Mubasshir, a student of NSU and member of the Anti-Corruption Reform Committee; and Musharrat Sharmee Hossain, Senior Lecturer in NSU’s Department of English and Modern Languages. They explored the driving forces behind the July Uprising, assessing how grassroots democratic movements continue to reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape.
Dr. Bulbul Siddiqi, Associate Professor and Director of the Confucius Institute at NSU, moderated the session. Dr. Siddiqi started by informing the audience, “Shortly after the July revolution, we organized an event for the students of the Private university. This program is a continuation of such efforts.” Panelists shared insights on the factors fueling democratic resistance, sparking dynamic exchanges with students, faculty, and community members eager to engage in the conversation.
A victim of enforced disappearance under the past regime, Dr. Mubashar Hasan shared, “The fascist regime was continuously oppressing us, and I was directly affected at that time. Yes, fascist regimes used to suppress us, but people were vocal, and they were writing about their experiences. Democratic spirit was always with us, no matter how strong the crackdown was.”
Professor Arild Engelsen Ruud discussed the spirit of resistance against autocracy. He said, “Autocracy is about reducing your voice and your access to information. It is used to silence people. Any effort to silence people is autocratic intent. On the other hand, any effort to counter that is democratic intent. There was increasing autocratization in Bangladesh, but there was some form of resistance. We can compare this small resistance to the ‘weapons of the weak’.”
Munim Mubasshir said, “The movement started at the University of Dhaka, after the 17th and 18th of July, the Private Universities of Bangladesh became actively involved and played a crucial role in the history of this nation. Among all the slogans of the movement, my most favourite was ‘ছাত্র শিক্ষক জনতা, গড়ে তুলো একতা’.”
Musharrat Sharmee Hossain said, “The students in the movement got their first training in 2018 during the road safety movement. The past regime and Sheikh Hasina had no idea about how the resistance would build up against her regime. It was the male and female students of the private university. They made a real difference.”
Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury thanked SIPG, NSU for arranging such a relevant discussion. He said, “As a bystander, I observed that the country was approaching destruction. Our territorial integrity was threatened. The GenZ and youngsters were not at the forefront in 2024 only, they were working for a long time. It was the whole country after them, their parents, teachers, rich, poor, everyone.”
The seminar attracted a diverse audience, including faculty members, students, diplomats, and representatives from the international community in Dhaka, who engaged in a vibrant Q&A session. The lively Q&A session that followed allowed attendees to pose questions and share their perspectives, making for a truly interactive and impactful experience.
