Renowned fiction writer and journalist Mahbub Morshed has called on authors to document the defining events of the July mass uprising and the oppressive measures inflicted upon the people by the ousted authoritarian Sheikh Hasina government. He stressed the importance of preserving these crucial historical moments in literature to safeguard them from being lost to collective memory.

"Many of the country’s landmark historical events, such as the 1971 Liberation War and the 1990 anti-Ershad movement, remain absent from our literature. If the story of the student-led uprising of 2024 is not preserved in literary works, future generations risk losing knowledge of this defining moment," said Mahbub Morshed while delivering a memorial lecture titled "Post-Uprising Literature: Crisis and Possibilities,"  held at the Kabi Shamsur Rahman Conference Room, Bangla Academy on Tuesday.

The programme was organized by the Oitijjhya publication in celebration of its two-decade milestone. In his speech, Mahbub Morshed, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha stressed that literature should reflect the pervasive authoritarianism that had seeped into every aspect of national life over the past 15 years.

Mahbub encouraged writers to use symbolism and metaphor when documenting Awami authoritarianism and the July uprising to ensure the events are accessible and resonant for readers.

"Even if the details of the oppression aren’t directly stated, readers will understand the depth of the suffering during that regime," he said.

Reflecting on the aftermath of the uprising, Mahbub expressed disappointment, noting, "We've drifted from our goals, forgetting the atrocities, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings that marked that period. We seem to have lost sight of the significance of this uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster."

"We still bear a mindset of defeat, not realising that we are the victors," noted fiction writer Mahbub Morshed said.

He warned against complacency, observing that, "After removing the visible symbols of the Awami League, many assumed the party had disappeared—but they’re still here, hidden in plain sight. And here we sit idly, after witnessing the tragic loss of nearly two thousand lives."