The "Mujibist" constitution of 1972 will become invalid through the proclamation of the July Revolution by the Anti-discrimination Students Movement on December 31, leaders of the platform said yesterday.

"From the very place where the one-point movement was declared, the grave of the Mujibist 1972 constitution will be dug -- we want the Mujibist constitution to be buried," Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the platform, told a press briefing at its central office in the capital's Banglamotor.

The platform is all set to unveil the proclamation of the July Revolution on December 31 at 3:00pm at the Central Shaheed Minar.

"The proclamation will clarify how the Mujibist constitution has destroyed the aspirations of the people and precisely how we intend to replace it." Hasnat Abdullah

— Convener of Anti-discrimination Students Movement

Hasnat further said that the proclamation should have been made on August 5 after the fall of the Awami League government.

"Better late than never. The delay has allowed pro-fascist forces to continue conspiring from abroad and questioning the legitimacy of the revolution through the media, intellectual circles and various other platforms."

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These efforts undermine the sacrifice of more than 2,000 martyrs and more than 20,000 injured, he said.

"We hope that the proclamation will make the Nazi-like Awami League irrelevant in Bangladesh."

The proclamation will outline the dreams, aspirations, intentions, goals and manifesto for the future of Bangladesh, he mentioned.

"It belongs to no specific party or class. Over the course of history, our dreams have been betrayed at various levels. Through this proclamation, we aim to ensure that such deprivation does not recur."

The foundational principles of the 1972 constitution facilitated Indian aggression, Hasnat said.

"The proclamation will clarify how the Mujibist constitution has destroyed the aspirations of the people and precisely how we intend to replace it," he added.

A draft of the proclamation has already been prepared by taking opinions from individuals from various political ideologies, religions and age groups who participated directly in the revolution, said Sarjis Alam, former coordinator of the student platform and currently the chief organiser of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

"We believe that the way the revolution united all anti-fascist forces, this proclamation will contain the hopes and aspirations of everyone -- we have crossed only the first phase of the revolution," he added.

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Abdul Hannan Masud, the chief organiser of the student platform, said it is the government's responsibility to incorporate the proclamation into the constitution and establish the Second Republic.

Hasnat, however, said the concept of a Second Republic is a legal matter. "We are not delving into those issues right now," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the government is not connected with the initiative by the student platform to declare the July mass uprising a revolution.

"This is a private initiative -- we are treating it as a private matter. It is not related to the government, and there is no involvement of the government," he said at a press briefing outside the state guesthouse Jamuna.

Meanwhile, Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said, "Until the declaration is made, it will not be clear to us. Until then, we won't be able to clarify it to you."