Moncho 71
মঞ্চ ৭১ | |
| Founded | 5 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Prof. Abdullah Al Mahmud (Bir Protik), Z. I. Khan Panna |
| Focus | Civic Activism, Historical awareness, 71 War Legacy |
| Headquarters | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Moncho 71 (মঞ্চ ৭১) is a Bangladeshi civic platform launched in August 2025 to raise public awareness on historical and governance-related issues, promote respect for freedom fighters, advocate for constitutional integrity and defend the legacy of the Bangladesh Liberation War and to preserve the dignity of freedom fighters.[1]
Background
The platform was announced on 5 August 2025 by freedom fighter Professor Abdullah Al Mahmud (Bir Protik) and lawyer Z. I. Khan Panna, who were introduced as its coordinators. According to its initiators, the initiative is non-partisan and aims to protect national history from distortion.[2] [3]
Objectives
At its launch, Moncho 71 declared a five-point demand:
- Reject any section of the July Declaration that conflicts with the spirit of the Liberation War.
- Oppose any rewriting of the constitution that undermines the war's significance.
- Protect freedom fighters from collective blame tied to political failures.
- Treat attempts to distort or disrespect the Liberation War as treason.
- Seek clarification from the caretaker government regarding its stance on the Liberation War.[4]
Media Reception
The formation of Moncho 71 received coverage in major Bangladeshi newspapers, including The Daily Star, bdnews24.com, The Business Standard, The Asian Age and Prothom Alo, which highlighted its stated non-political nature and focus on defending historical memory.[5][6]
Activities
DRU Disruption
On 28 August 2025, during a scheduled Mancha 71 programme at the Dhaka University (DU) Residential University (DRU) auditorium, the event was disrupted by protesters.[7][8]
According to news reports, the disruption involved a group of students and political activists who opposed the meeting. The organizers described the incident as an attempt to intimidate the participants and to prevent the discussion of civic and historical issues related to Bangladesh's independence and governance.[9]
Following the disruption, media outlets widely covered the incident, highlighting the tensions surrounding Mancha 71's initiatives and its public events.[10]
Recent Developments
During the programme of Moncho 71 at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, a group of people created a commotion and disrupted the event. Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique and several others were taken into police custody following the incident.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
International criticism
Following the arrests of Latif Siddique and others at a Moncho 71 event, British journalist David Bergman criticised the decision in a X (formerly Twitter) post, which was reported in The Business Standard and Dhaka Tribune. He stated that the arrests "were not acting in the best interest of either the government or the country". He further added that "political convenience is no justification to arrest people or take away their human rights." Bergman also warned that such actions "It helps gives the impression — one which I don't think the vast majority of the government intends to give — that the current government is 'against 1971.' Indeed, arresting these people falls right into the Awami League's strategy of allowing it to paint a picture of the current government as "anti-liberation". He subsequently issued an warning and advised caution [20][21]
See also
Notes
The organization is referred to by multiple spellings in various media sources: Moncho 71, Mancha 71, and Moncha 71. All refer to the same civic platform based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[1] [9][10][7][8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Moncho 71 launched to defend Liberation War legacy and dignity of freedom fighters". The Daily Star. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "মুক্তিযুদ্ধের ইতিহাস রক্ষায় 'মঞ্চ ৭১'-এর আত্মপ্রকাশ". Prothom Alo. 5 August 2025.
- ↑ "'মঞ্চ ৭১' আত্মপ্রকাশ". bdnews24. 5 August 2025.
- ↑ "মুক্তিযুদ্ধের ইতিহাস রক্ষায় আত্মপ্রকাশ করলো 'মঞ্চ ৭১' দাবী ৫". The Daily Ittefaq. 5 August 2025.
- ↑ "Mancha 71 launched to preserve Liberation War history". The Asian Age. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "ZI Panna denies planning visit to Dhanmondi-32 under 71 Mancha banner". The Business Standard. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Ex-minister Latif Siddique detained amid chaos at Mancha 71's programme". New Age. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Former minister Latif Siddique detained amid protest at Mancha 71 event". Prothom Alo. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Protesters disrupt Mancha 71 meeting, ex-minister Latif Siddique, others escorted out". bdnews24. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Protesters disrupt Mancha 71 meeting, ex-minister Latif Siddique, others escorted out". The Business Standard. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "বিবিসি বাংলা লাইভ: লতিফ সিদ্দিকী, অধ্যাপক কার্জনসহ ডিআরইউ থেকে আটকদের গ্রেফতার দেখাল পুলিশ". BBC News বাংলা. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "মঞ্চ ৭১ এর অনুষ্ঠানে হামলা, লতিফ সিদ্দিকী আটক". Somoy News. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "মঞ্চ ৭১'র অনুষ্ঠানে উত্তেজনা, সাবেক মন্ত্রী লতিফ সিদ্দিকী আটক". Samakal. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "মঞ্চ ৭১ এর অনুষ্ঠানে লতিফ সিদ্দিকী আটক". বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "'মঞ্চ ৭১'র অনুষ্ঠান থেকে লতিফ সিদ্দিকীসহ বেশ কয়েকজনকে আটক". Dhaka Tribune (Bangla). 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "মঞ্চ ৭১ এর অনুষ্ঠানে উত্তেজনা, সাবেক মন্ত্রী আটক". NTV. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "মঞ্চ ৭১ এর অনুষ্ঠানে লতিফ সিদ্দিকী আটক". Jugantor. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "Moncho 71 disrupted, Latif Siddiqui arrested". Channel i Online. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "Moncho 71 event disrupted, Latif Siddiqui detained". Jago News 24. 28 August 2025.
- ↑ Bergman, David (29 August 2025). "Latif Siddique, others' arrest not in best interest of country or govt: David Bergman". The Business Standard. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Bergman criticizes arrest of Latif Siddique, 15 others". Dhaka Tribune. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
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