A seminar titled "Student-Public Uprising: Our Thoughts" was held on Sunday, in Milan, Italy, organized by Bangladeshi expatriates from northern Italy.

Hosted at an upscale venue in the city, the event brought together politicians, community leaders, and civil society representatives to reflect on the July Uprising and its implications.

The seminar was chaired by Hossain Mohammad Monir, a Milan-based community leader and political figure.

The keynote address was delivered by Pinaki Bhattacharya, an activist, writer, and prominent figure in the July Uprising.

The event was moderated by Abdullah Al Mamun, Azmat Ullah Shikder Robin, and Noor Hossain Zamir, all leaders of the Bangladeshi community in northern Italy.

Distinguished guests included Aminul Islam Salam, a community leader from Rome; Sardar Asaduzzaman Ripon, a politician; and Carlo Brignolo, Simone Orlandi, and Francesco Rocca, representatives of the ruling Italian party Fratelli d’Italia in Milan.

Local Italian university students and civil society members also contributed to discussions.

In his speech, Hossain Mohammad Monir highlighted the struggles faced by expatriate Bangladeshis and called for greater recognition of their contributions during the uprising.

He urged Bangladesh's leadership to address their concerns effectively.

A policy paper outlining four key demands of expatriates, authored by journalist Mohammad Arif Ullah and activist Mohammad Ali Chowdhury, was presented at the seminar.

Delivering the keynote, Pinaki Bhattacharya reflected on Bangladesh's historical challenges: "History shows us figures like Mir Jafar, who once resisted invaders but later compromised our independence. Similarly, Sheikh Mujib inspired us to dream of independence but allowed his party to foster foreign dominance in Bangladesh."

Bhattacharya also emphasized resilience: "Every nation has its weaknesses, but together, we will end Bangladesh’s history of deprivation. If our sovereignty is ever at risk again, we will resist globally."

The seminar drew attendees from across Italy, including notable figures such as Zakir Hossain, Jewel Pasha, and Shariful Islam Milon, alongside representatives from cities like Vicenza, Mofalcone, Turin, Pisa, and Genoa.

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