“Catch it before the world gets to see these.”
A series of documentaries capturing the emotional and political aftermath of Bangladesh’s July uprising is currently being screened across London.
The screenings are being held at SOAS, the House of Commons, and the Frontline Club.
They aim to bring international attention to the human stories that emerged from the 2024 student-led protests.
Bangladeshi filmmaker and cultural adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki announced the screenings on social media.
He urged Londoners to witness the films before their global release.
The filmmaker highlighted the exclusive nature of the events, saying:
“Catch it before the world gets to see these.”
The screening series began on May 16 at the Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS.
Audiences were introduced to Deepak Kumar Goswami Speaking, a 21-minute documentary. It follows the perspective of a Hindu minority member navigating the aftermath of the unrest.
The film explores the spread of misinformation and rising religious tensions in the wake of the protests.
Paired with it was Jatrabari – Evidence of a Massacre, a forensic-style documentary reconstructing acts of police brutality using raw, unedited mobile phone footage.
The film’s gritty style and haunting imagery provided audiences with a stark look at state violence during the protests.
The spotlight then moves to Portcullis House at the House of Commons on May 19, 2025.
Deepak Kumar Goswami Speaking returns for a second screening, this time alongside selected excerpts from July Women, which focuses on the female protesters who led from the front during the uprising.
The House of Commons event will include a panel as well.
This includes MP Apsana Begum, author Farrukh Dhondy, academic Nayanika Mookherjee, photographer Shahidul Alam, and activist Nowshin Noor.
They will discuss both films and the broader implications of state responses to civil dissent in South Asia.
The film series will conclude on May 20, 2025, at the Frontline Club in Paddington with the world premiere of July Women.
The documentary is a tribute to the bravery of women who stood against police violence, societal pressure, and gendered threats during the July protests.
Each screening and discussion intends not just to showcase the tragedies but to build solidarity and spark critical dialogue.
The documentaries go beyond headlines, telling the personal, often painful stories that have shaped Bangladesh’s political climate in the past year.
Organisers hope the international exposure will amplify voices often silenced on the ground.
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