July Revolution
The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after French Revolution, the first of 1789–99. It led to the overthrow of King Cha ...
was a pro-democratic mass uprising against the
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
in
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
. The movement started as
a quota reform movement soon after the
High Court Division of the Supreme Court declared the circular issued
by the government in 2018 invalid on 5 June 2024. But the government law-enforcing agencies and the ruling party members carried out massive suppression and
mass killing
Mass killing is a concept which has been proposed by genocide scholars who wish to define incidents of non-combat killing which are perpetrated by a government or a state. A mass killing is commonly defined as the killing of group members without ...
of the protesters, known as the
July massacre
The July massacre () was the violent suppression and mass killings in Bangladesh during the July Revolution (Bangladesh), July Revolution from July 16 to August 5, 2024. Triggered by the reinstatement of a controversial Quota system of Banglades ...
. The movement then turned into a fully-fledged mass uprising, ultimately
ousting Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024.
Early phase
5 June
High Court reestablished the job quota that reserves 30% of the civil service posts for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters in the
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
.
6 June
Six universities performed peaceful protests against the quota ruling.
The protests calmed down because of the Eid ul Adha celebrations, but it soon restarted after the break.
7 July
Students staged a blockade, and demanded the rescinding of the quota.
Bangla Blockade and Chhatra League attacks
10 July
In
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country.
The University of Dhaka w ...
at approximately 11:00 AM, a protest march commenced in front of the library, passed by the
Raju Memorial Sculpture, and culminated in the blockage of the
Shahbagh
Shahbagh (also Shahbaugh or Shahbag, , ) is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or ''thana'' in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is also a major public transport hub. It is a junction between two contrasting section ...
intersection. Members of the law and order forces positioned barricades in front of the students. In the afternoon, it is known that the status quo has been given for four weeks in the ruling given by the High Court cancelling the quota system. The Chief Justice asked the students to go back. Dhaka's transport system came to a standstill due to the blockade in various parts of Dhaka. Long-distance buses and trains were stopped due to the agitation.
Police attacked protesting students of
Comilla University
The Comilla University is a public university located at Kotbari, Comilla, Bangladesh. The university was constructed on 244.19 acres of land at Shalban Vihara, Moynamoti, Kotbari. Comilla University is affiliated with University Grants Commi ...
.
11 July
The blockade in
Shahbagh
Shahbagh (also Shahbaugh or Shahbag, , ) is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or ''thana'' in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is also a major public transport hub. It is a junction between two contrasting section ...
was supposed to start from 03:00 PM but due to rain, the students crossed the police barricade on their way to Shahbagh and started later at 04:30 PM. Dhaka College students retreated due to police barricades and Dhaka University students joined the students of
Jagannath University
Jagannath University (JnU) () is a public university located in Sadarghat, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded as ''Dhaka Brahma School'' in 1858 and renamed ''Jagannath School'' in 1872, and later renamed ''Jagannath College'' in 1884, the institution wa ...
at Shahbagh. Apart from Shahbagh, other places in Dhaka were unaffected by the movement. At 09:00 PM, the students ended their agitation and announced a protest march and rally on 12 July to protest the violent police attack on them.
12 July
At 05:00 PM, students gathered at Shahbagh and staged a blockade in the area.
While students were protesting at Comilla Victoria College, a group of Chhatra League members launched an attack on the protesters. During the situation, a student who was recording a video was taken to a hall and beaten by the Chhatra League members.
13 July
Students protested by blocking the railway tracks in Rajshahi. In Dhaka, DU students held a press conference in the evening, where they complained that attempts were being made to block the students' movement with lawsuits.
14 July
Students marched in Dhaka and held a sit-in protest and blockade, later submitting a memorandum to President
Mohammed Sahabuddin.
In response to the controversial statement made by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh during a press conference, where she reportedly referred to students protesting the quota reform movement as the children of
Razakars (traitors in the
1971 Independence War), students organized a midnight demonstration at the Dhaka University campus area ''(See the section)''. Female students from Rokeya Hall joined the protest by breaking the lock put up by the authorities at the dorm gate.
The government instructed operators to shut down the 4G network in the
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country.
The University of Dhaka w ...
area. At around 11:30 PM, leaders and members of the
Bangladesh Chhatra League
Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
attacked protesters at the
University of Chittagong
The University of Chittagong () also known as Chittagong University (CU), is a public research university located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was established on 18 November 1966. It is the fifth oldest university of Bangladesh. Having an area ...
injuring 13 protesters.
15 July
The attacks against the protesters began soon after the ruling Awami League general secretary said on Monday that the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party, was ready to give a fitting reply to quota protesters for their 'arrogant behaviour.'
In
Jashore
Jessore (, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District in Khulna Division. It lies in southwestern Bangladesh. It is home to the first flight training school of the Bangladeshi Air Force, established in 1971. Jessore city consists of 9 w ...
at around 12:00 pm, students from
Jashore University of Science and Technology
Jashore University of Science and Technology (), commonly known and abbreviated as JUST (), is a government-financed public university in Bangladesh. JUST is located at Sadhinata Sarak in Jessore Sadar Upazila, in Khulna Division. Its postal co ...
and
Michael Madhusudan College
Michael Madhusudan College (), in Jessore District, is one of the largest educational institutions in Khulna Division, Bangladesh. The college is named after famed educationalist and intellectual Michael Madhusudan Dutt. It has about 26,000 stu ...
staged a protest, where a member of the
Chhatra League
Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
attacked and injured a protester.
In Dhaka, Members of the Chhatra League started their procession to Shahbagh from
Segunbagicha
Segunbagicha () is an upscale Residential area, residential, administrative, commercial, and institutional neighbourhood in south-central Dhaka, Bangladesh. The neighbourhood is an important area of Dhaka featuring a large number of government an ...
near
Motsho Bhobon at around 03:45 PM.
Later in the evening, Chhatra League members attacked students inside
Bijoy Ekattor Hall of Dhaka University, where some of the attackers were seen shooting with
pistols
A pistol is a type of handgun, characterised by a barrel with an integral chamber. The word "pistol" derives from the Middle French ''pistolet'' (), meaning a small gun or knife, and first appeared in the English language when early handguns ...
and
carrying sticks. In response, the protesters also threw brickbats from the inside of the hall to retaliate. While covering the protest in the University of Dhaka, two journalists from ''
The Daily Star'' and ''
Prothom Alo
''Prothom Alo'' () is a Bengali language, Bengali-language daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka. It is one of the largest circulated newspaper in Bangladesh. According to the National Media Survey of 2018, conducted by Kantar MRB ...
'' were assaulted and injured in the attack carried out by the Chhatra League.
At 5:30 pm, members of the Chhatra League attempted to attack the emergency department of
Dhaka Medical College Hospital
Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) is a public medical college and hospital located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1946, the college houses a medical school as well as a tertiary care hospital on its campus.
History
Site during ...
, where over 200 students injured in the clashes were seeking treatment. After several attempts throughout the afternoon, Chhatra League members, some wearing helmets, forcibly entered DMCH around 7:30 PM and initiated an attack. Many were observed carrying rods and Chinese axes. They targeted students already injured in the quota reform movement and vandalized several ambulances parked at DMCH.
Later the same evening, an attack carried out by the Chhatra League Rajshahi branch at
Rajshahi University
The University of Rajshahi (), also known as Rajshahi University (RU), is a Public university, public research university located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is the second oldest and third largest university in Bangladesh. The university's 59 ...
left six students injured, including the joint convenor of the
Bangladesh Students Union
Bangladesh Students' Union (, abbreviated as BSU) is a left-wing student organization in Bangladesh. The organization was established on 26 April 1952. The organization is the mass organization of Communist Party of Bangladesh. During the In ...
at RU.
In
Cumilla
Comilla (), officially spelled Cumilla, is a metropolis on the banks of the Gomti River in eastern Bangladesh. Comilla was one of the cities of ancient Bengal. It was once the capital of Tripura kingdom. Comilla Airport is located in the Duli ...
, The
Cumilla University coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement was assaulted at around 8:00 pm when eight Chhatra League members called him to check his phone and beat him.
The protesters called for nation-wide demonstrations and rallies in all educational institutions of the country at 03:00 pm on 16 July.
16 July
At around 12:15 am, members of the Chhatra League attacked
Jahangirnagar University
Jahangirnagar University (, abbreviated as JU; initially started as Jahangirnagar Muslim University; ) is a fully residential public university, public research university located in Savar Upazila, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in ...
students using firearms. The students took shelter at the vice-chancellor's residence after breaking its lock. Around 300 Chhatra League members, armed with galvanised pipes and sticks, threw bricks and glass bottles at the students. Shots were reportedly fired, injuring two journalists, including one from ''
Dhaka Tribune
The ''Dhaka Tribune'' is a major Bangladeshi English-language daily newspaper based in Dhaka, the country's capital and largest city. It also operates an online portal ( Bengali version) known as the '' Bangla Tribune''. The newspaper has a stron ...
'' and over 50 student protesters.
Police arrived to control the situation, while both groups positioned themselves outside the vice-chancellor's residence. Students claimed the attackers included outsiders, some in their forties. Later on, the sub-inspector of the Ashulia Police Department instead decided to blame the students by stating that the protesters are to blame for causing "this mayhem".
A violent incident involving police and students demanding quota reforms took place in front of
Begum Rokeya University
Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur () (abbreviated as BRUR), formerly Rangpur University, is a public research university in Rangpur, Bangladesh. Founded in 2008, it is the only generally categorized university in Rangpur Division and the second ...
in
Rangpur
Rangpur may refer to:
Places In Bangladesh
*Rangpur Division, one of the eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh.
*Rangpur District, district of Bangladesh in Rangpur Division.
*Rangpur, Bangladesh, metropolis and a major city in northern ...
between 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM. Police resorted to
lathi charge
A baton charge is a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people, usually used by police, paramilitary or military in response to public disorder. In the Indian subcontinent, a long bamboo stick, called a '' lathi'' in Bengali, Hindi, ...
s and firing during the incident. According to Dr. Md. Yunus Ali, Director of
Rangpur Medical College Hospital, a Begum Rokeya University student named
Abu Sayed
Abu Sayed (; 2 March 1999 – 16 July 2024) was a Bangladeshi student activist who Killing of Abu Sayed, was shot dead by the Bangladesh Police, police on 16 July 2024, while participating in the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, 2024 quo ...
died after being brought to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
At around 3:30 PM, it was reported that in the
Farmgate–Khamarbari area, Chhatra League assailants attacked protestors with sticks. When the protestors took shelter in the
Farmgate metro station
Farmgate (, ''Romanisation of Bengali, romanised: Farmget'') is an elevated metro station of the Dhaka Metro's MRT Line 6. This station is located in the neighbourhood of Farmgate. The station commenced operations on 5 November 2023.
References< ...
, the assailants entered and started to beat the students, which was witnessed by the passengers. Police were allegedly deployed to control the situation. However, DMTCL, the authority responsible for the operation for the
Dhaka Metro Rail
The Dhaka Metro Rail () is a rapid transit, mass rapid transit system serving Dhaka (currently from Uttara North to Motijheel), the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is operated by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). Toget ...
, denied these claims and stated that guards of the station drove the "miscreants" away as they entered with bamboo sticks. They also stated that there was no damage to the station. However, they announced plans to close some of the gates of the station complex for some time to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
As students at public universities were forcefully vacated, students from various schools, colleges, and private universities joined the cause. They protested and blocked roads against the violence of the Chhatra League in the quota reform movement, including
Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College (Notre Dame College of Ohio or NDC) was a private Roman Catholic college in South Euclid, Ohio. Established in 1922 by the Sisters of Notre Dame as a women's college, it was coeducational from January 2001 until its closure ...
,
Dhaka Residential Model College
Dhaka Residential Model College (DRMC; ) is a public autonomous residential school on Mirpur Road, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The college offers primary, secondary education and higher secondary education, for students from third grade to t ...
,
RAJUK Uttara Model College,
Adamjee Cantonment College
Adamjee Cantonment College () also known as ACC is an educational institution in Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The institution was established in 1960 following the ideology of originally renowned public schools of England – Eton and H ...
,
Viqarunnisa Noon School and College
Viqarunnisa Noon School & College (), also known as VNSC, is an all-girls secondary school and college in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It has about 25,000 students at four campuses in the city. It is named after Viqar un Nisa Noon.
History
The school be ...
,
Ideal School and College,
Ideal College,
Dhaka City College
Dhaka City College () also known as DCC, is one of the oldest private colleges in Bangladesh. It is located at Qudrat-i-Khuda Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. It offers Honors and Masters degree programs as well as higher secondary education ( HSC). T ...
,
BAF Shaheen College Dhaka,
BAF Shaheen College Kurmitola,
Birshrestha Noor Mohammad Public College, Birshrestha Munshi Abdur Rauf Public College and so on.
Students of
North South University
North South University (, also known as NSU) is a Private university, private research university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 1992 under the Private University Act, 1992 by the then Foundation for Promotion of Education and Resea ...
,
Independent University Bangladesh and
BRAC University
BRAC University (, also known as BRACU) is a private research university located in Merul Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 2001 as a branch of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's BRAC under the Private University Act 1992.
History
Sir ...
protested at and around their respective premises areas at
Bashundhara Residential Area
Bashundhara Residential Area, or simply Bashundhara, () is an upscale residential and semi-business neighbourhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Described as a "city inside a city," the area is the largest private real estate project in Greater Dhaka. ...
and
Merul Badda with the blockade set up by the students extending up to
Baridhara
Baridhara () is an upscale residential area in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is located on the east of and northeast of Gulshan across Gulshan-Baridhara Lake. It has special zones designated for diplomats, and many of the city's foreign embassies and h ...
, the streets in front of the
Jamuna Future Park
Jamuna Future Park is a shopping mall in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was inaugurated on 6 September 2013. Construction began in 2002, by Jamuna Builders Ltd., a subsidiary of the Jamuna Group and the exterior was completed in 2008. It has a total floor ...
mall, the largest mall in the country, Notun Bazar,
Badda, and
Kuril, causing gridlock to its neighboring areas as well, including
Rampura,
Banasree, Badda Link Road and Abul Hotel area in
Malibagh
Malibagh or Malibag () is a neighbourhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It holds the distinction of being one of the oldest and most traditional neighbourhoods in the city. Considered one of the most populated areas in Dhaka, the area falls under the preci ...
.
Students of
University of Scholars,
Primeasia University and
Fareast International University
Fareast International University (FIU) () is a private university located at Banani in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The university was established in 2013 under the Private University Act, 2010. It was founded by Sheikh Kabir Hossain, a relative of Prim ...
blocked the
Banani area. Students of
Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College (Notre Dame College of Ohio or NDC) was a private Roman Catholic college in South Euclid, Ohio. Established in 1922 by the Sisters of Notre Dame as a women's college, it was coeducational from January 2001 until its closure ...
protested in the country's main financial hub and the largest central business district of
Motijheel
Motijheel () is a central business district and a thana of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is Dhaka's primary central business district, and also the nation's largest commercial and financial hub. Motijheel, located immediately adjacent to Dhaka's zero ...
at
Shapla Square
Shapla Square (, Shapla Chottor) is a huge sculpture at the heart of Motijheel, a central business district, near the center of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It depicts a Shapla (water lily, the species '' Nymphaea nouchali''), the national ...
. Students of
Daffodil International University
Daffodil International University or (DIU) () is a private research university located in Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established on 24 January 2002 under the Private University Act of 1992. DIU is the largest ...
also made an attempt to start a demonstration at the road, but instead protested on-campus. Students of other universities and colleges also joined the protests. Protests also took place in
Dhanmondi
Dhanmondi () is an upscale residential and commercial neighbourhood and a Thanas of Bangladesh, thana (police jurisdiction) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, known for its central location, cultural vibrancy and being home to the country's founding president, ...
, specifically in front of the Science Laboratory area and in
Uttara
Uttara, which means "north" in Sanskrit and many other South Asian languages, may refer to:
Places
*Uttara (town), Uttara, a neighbourhood north of Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Uttara Export Processing Zone, Bangladesh
*Uttara East Thana
*Uttara West Thana ...
. Gridlocks were also experienced at places like
Mohammadpur,
Dhanmondi
Dhanmondi () is an upscale residential and commercial neighbourhood and a Thanas of Bangladesh, thana (police jurisdiction) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, known for its central location, cultural vibrancy and being home to the country's founding president, ...
,
Mirpur Road
Mirpur Road is a long north–south road connecting the northern part of Mirpur and Dhaka University campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh. One of the major roads in the Bangladeshi capital, Mirpur road runs through Shyamoli, Mohammadpur, and Dhanmondi ...
, and Gabtoli.
Students blocked railway lines in
Chattogram
Chittagong ( ), officially Chattogram, (, ) (, or ) is the second-largest city in Bangladesh. Home to the Port of Chittagong, it is the busiest port in Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. The city is also the business capital of Bangladesh. It ...
and
Mohakhali
Mohakhali () is a neighborhood of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. Mohakhali is one of the busiest places in Dhaka city. Mohakhali is bounded by Banani (neighbourhood), Banani in the north, Tejgaon Industrial Area Thana, Tejgoan area in the ...
. The
Dhaka–Chattogram,
Dhaka–Khulna,
Dhaka-Rajshahi,
Dhaka–Rangpur and
Dhaka-Mymensingh highways were also blocked.
In the evening, the
Ministry of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
announced the indefinite closure of schools and colleges and the postponing of the
HSC exam scheduled for 18 July.
The
UGC declared that all public and private universities across the country will remain closed until further notice. At the same time, all affiliated medical, textile, engineering and other colleges will also remain closed. The commission also directed university authorities to vacate residential halls allegedly considering safety of the students.
In remembrance of the fallen, the movement announced a symbolic funeral prayer scheduled for 17 July.
17 July
Clashes erupted with police after the funeral prayer program organized by the student protesters,
BNP and other parties to honor six individuals killed on 16 July for the quota reform movement.
The government ordered all students to vacate the residential halls. The protestors rejected the order, to which the authorities deployed police to evacuate the halls. Students who blocked the
Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway announced a total shutdown for 18 July, allowing only emergency services, to protest police violence, demand justice for the deceased, and call for a terror-free campus.
PM Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
addressed the nation at 7:30 pm, where she announced a judicial probe into the deaths during the anti-quota protests and urged patience until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict, emphasizing justice for the students and condemning the violence.
Students at the university erected the Shaheed Smriti Stambha, a memorial pillar to honor the memory of the dead students.
Complete Shutdown
18 July
In the morning police clashed with
BRAC University
BRAC University (, also known as BRACU) is a private research university located in Merul Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 2001 as a branch of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's BRAC under the Private University Act 1992.
History
Sir ...
students on the streets of
Badda. Police also charged batons and fired tear gas canisters at the students and lobedb tear gas shells at the BRACU campus.
Dhaka Metro
The Dhaka Metro Rail () is a rapid transit, mass rapid transit system serving Dhaka (currently from Uttara North to Motijheel), the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is operated by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). Toget ...
Mirpur-10 station was closed for arson at a foot-overbridge just beneath it.
Reports indicated that approximately 30 students were killed by the
Bangladesh police
The Bangladesh Police () is the national law enforcement agency of Bangladesh, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh), Ministry of Home Affairs. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order with ...
.
Minister of Law Anisul Haque urged the students to withdraw their movement.
The
Bangladesh Police
The Bangladesh Police () is the national law enforcement agency of Bangladesh, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh), Ministry of Home Affairs. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order with ...
,
RAB
Rab may refer to:
Places
* Rab (island), an island in Croatia
* Rab (town), on the island of Rab
* Ráb, the Slovak name of Győr, a city in Hungary
* Rąb, a village in Poland
People
* Rab (surname), includes a list of people with the n ...
,
Bangladesh Bank
Bangladesh Bank (BB; ) is the central bank of Bangladesh and is a member of the Asian Clearing Union. It is fully owned by the Bangladesh, Government of Bangladesh.
The bank is active in developing green banking. and financial inclusion poli ...
,
Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office and
Bangladesh Chhatra League
Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
's official website was hacked by a pro-protester group as a response to the violence and attacks carried out by the police and the Chhatra League.
Metro rail services in the capital were suspended,
and at around 9 pm, the government shut down internet access across the entire country.
A second-year student from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science at
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, abbreviated as SUST, is a Public university, public research university in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Established in 1986, it is one of the leading universities in pioneering research and education ...
drowned while attempting to cross a canal with friends. The incident occurred during a police chase amid clashes between students, police and Chhatra League members.
19 July
The
Dhaka Metropolitan Police
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (; abbreviated as DMP) is the unit of Bangladesh Police responsible for law enforcement in the metropolis of Dhaka, the national capital and most populous city in Bangladesh. The DMP is the largest police force uni ...
, in an attempt to hinder the students' protests, announced the indefinite suspension of public gatherings and processions. The
Bangladesh Railway
Bangladesh Railway () is the state-owned rail transport agency of Bangladesh. It operates and maintains all railways in the country, and is overseen by the Directorate General of Bangladesh Railway. The Bangladesh Railway is governed by the Mi ...
authorities, on orders from higher-ups in the government, directed train services between Dhaka and the rest of the country to shut down to prevent quota reform protestors from using trains to travel or form gatherings, according to several unnamed railway supervisors speaking with
Prothom Alo
''Prothom Alo'' () is a Bengali language, Bengali-language daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka. It is one of the largest circulated newspaper in Bangladesh. According to the National Media Survey of 2018, conducted by Kantar MRB ...
. The nationwide shutdown of Internet access begun on 18 July continued into 19 July.
Throughout the country, calls for quota reform protests largely continued. Around 10:00 a.m., teachers at
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology wore black face coverings in protest. At approximately 12:45 p.m., after protesters in Kishoreganj District's Bhairab Thana surrounded the police station, police fired into the crowd from within the station, injuring over a hundred students.
Some clashes with the police also took place elsewhere, including in Uttara, Mohammadpur, and Badda thanas of Dhaka. The
Mirpur 10 and
Kazipara metro stations were vandalised, causing extensive damages worth .
In
Narsingdi
Narsingdi () is a city and headquarters of Narsingdi District and the Narsingdi Sadar Upazila in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. The Dhaka–Sylhet highway connects Narsingdi with the capital and other major cities. Narsingdi is one of the most impor ...
, quota reform protesters stormed a prison and released hundreds of inmates before setting the facility on fire.
The government imposed a curfew at midnight and deployed
troops
A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a Squadron (cavalry), squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section (military unit), section or platoon. Exception ...
nationwide.
Negotiations and Supreme Court verdict
After the deadly Shutdown, the Anti-discrimination Students' Movement and the government started negotiations on 19 July night. At midnight, a meeting took place between three government representatives and three representatives of the protesters: Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, and Tanvir Ahmed. Notably, Sarjis Alam was a member of the
Chhatra League
Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
and participated in the
2019 DUCSU election as a candidate from the Chhatra League.
During the negotiations, at midnight of 20 July, Nahid Islam, a quota reform movement coordinator, was allegedly taken from a friend's house in Nandipara, according to his father. After being released on 21 July, Nahid reported being blindfolded, handcuffed, and tortured before regaining consciousness in
Purbachal.
On 21 July, the
Appellate division of the Supreme Court finally reduced the percentage of quotas from 56% to 7%.
Suspensions
Following the verdict on 22 July, the Anti-discrimination Students' Movement announced a two-day suspension of protests. They demanded that the government lift the curfew, restore internet access, and cease targeting student protesters. With the suspension of the protests by the Anti-discrimination Students' Movement, no further violence was reported by this period. The organization later further extended the suspension. But mass detentions were continued by the law enforcement agencies.
On 26 July, police detained three coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students' Movement from the hospital, namely Nahid Islam, Abu Bakar Mazumdar and Asif Mahmud. The Home Minister claimed their detention to be for their own security and investigation purposes. The later day, two more coordinators of the organization–Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah–were detained. The Additional Deputy Commissioner of the
Detective Branch
The Detective Branch (; abbreviated as DB) is a specialized unit of the Bangladesh Police. It mostly deals with investigative activities and special operations in sensitive cases and places. The main task of the detectives of this unit is to colle ...
Junaed Alam Sarker and stated that they were detained for interrogation about their alleged connection with the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and Gono Odhikar Parishad Member-Secretary
Nurul Haq Nur
Nurul Haque Nur (born October 1991), natively known as VP Nur, is a Bangladeshi activist, politician, and currently the 1st President of the Gono Odhikar Parishad political party. He came to prominence in 2018 as a joint-convener of Bangladesh Sa ...
. In response, the organization threatened to resume their protests from 29 July if the three were not released, while also demanding action against ministers and police officers over the deaths of the protesters.
Meanwhile, the government relaxed the curfew restrictions day by day, allowing banks, factories and offices to reopen gradually.
On 23 July, the ICT Minister announced that the government would restore broadband internet service partially to banks, business organizations, export sectors, and selected areas after a five-day disruption. Accordingly, on 24 July, broadband internet services were restored, and on 28 July, mobile internet was restored in Bangladesh, although social media websites like Facebook,
Instagram
Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
and
TikTok
TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (), is a social media and Short-form content, short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which may range in duration f ...
continued to be blocked.
On 28 July, six protest coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students' Movement, who had been taken into custody by the
Detective Branch
The Detective Branch (; abbreviated as DB) is a specialized unit of the Bangladesh Police. It mostly deals with investigative activities and special operations in sensitive cases and places. The main task of the detectives of this unit is to colle ...
, issued a statement from the DB office announcing the withdrawal of the protests. However, other coordinators of the same organisation alleged that these individuals had been coerced by the DB into making the statement. The remaining coordinators vowed to continue their protest, with or without the support of the six individuals.
Resumption
29 July
Protesters resumed large-scale demonstrations across various regions of the country after the government ignored an ultimatum to release their leaders. Police arrested 2,822 students in Dhaka.
University professors across Bangladesh, under the "Anti-Repression Teachers Rally" banner, have called for an end to student harassment and mass arrests. They demanded the release of detained students and expressed solidarity with ongoing student protests. The rally, held at Dhaka University's
Aparajeyo Bangla
''Aparajeyo Bangla'' () is one of the most well known sculptures dedicated to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. It is located in the campus of Dhaka University, just in front of the Faculty of Arts Building. In Bengali, the phrase means " ...
on 29 July 2024, began with a moment of silence for students killed in the recent quota reform movement, which the teachers labeled the "
July massacre
The July massacre () was the violent suppression and mass killings in Bangladesh during the July Revolution (Bangladesh), July Revolution from July 16 to August 5, 2024. Triggered by the reinstatement of a controversial Quota system of Banglades ...
."
30 July
A cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 29 July declared that nationwide mourning will be observed on 30 July to honor those killed during the quota reform movement. While Awami League leaders posted black profile pictures on Facebook, many users in Bangladesh chose red, rejecting the official mourning as a farce and declaring they will mourn only when justice is served for the dead students.
At a press conference held at the
Dhaka Reporters Unity, several prominent citizens, including
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of
Transparency International Bangladesh
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) is the Bangladeshi branch of the Berlin-based Transparency International, a civil society organisation dedicated to fighting against corruption.
History
TIB started its activities in 1997, under found ...
;
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of the
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (), or BELA (বেলা), is a nonprofit legal organization established in 1992 to assist efforts to protect the environment. In 2003, it was placed on the 'Global 500 Roll of Honour' of the Unite ...
(BELA); and
Asif Nazrul
Mohammad Nazrul Islam, better known as Asif Nazrul (; born 12 January 1966), is a Bangladeshi writer, novelist, columnist, political commentator and a professor of law at the University of Dhaka. He was appointed an adviser to the interim govern ...
, Professor of Law at
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country.
The University of Dhaka w ...
, issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the unconditional release of the six coordinators of the
Anti-discrimination Students Movement
Students Against Discrimination () is a platform of student activists in Bangladesh formed in 2024 during the nationwide student-led quota reform movement. The group was involved in the ousting of the country's former prime minister Sheikh H ...
who was in
Detective Branch
The Detective Branch (; abbreviated as DB) is a specialized unit of the Bangladesh Police. It mostly deals with investigative activities and special operations in sensitive cases and places. The main task of the detectives of this unit is to colle ...
(DB) custody.
31 July
On 31 July, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement organized a nationwide protest named "March for Justice" in response to the series of killings, mass arrests, attacks, lawsuits, enforced disappearances, and murders of students and citizens.
Abdul Hannan Masud, one of the coordinators of the movement, confirmed the event. The protest was scheduled to take place at 12:00 pm (
UTC+06:00) across court premises, campuses, and streets nationwide, advocating for nine specific demands of the students. The movement sought the support and cooperation of teachers, lawyers, human rights activists, professionals, workers, and citizens.
At 11:20 am, students from
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, abbreviated as SUST, is a Public university, public research university in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Established in 1986, it is one of the leading universities in pioneering research and education ...
(SUST) and other educational institutions in
Sylhet
Sylhet (; ) is a Metropolis, metropolitan city in the north eastern region of Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative center for both the Sylhet District and the Sylhet Division. The city is situated on the banks of the Surma River and, as o ...
marched from the university gate towards Court Point in support of the protest.
By 11:00 am, protesters began assembling at the
Chattogram Court premises. Despite police barricades, around 200 protesters entered the premises and staged a sit-in. A group of 50 to 60 pro-BNP lawyers stood in solidarity with the students, while pro-Awami League lawyers conducted a counter-march. The protest in Chattogram concluded around 15:15 with a march from the court premises to the
New Market New Market may refer to:
Bangladesh
*New Market, Dhaka
*New Market, Khulna, in Sonadanga Model Thana
*New Market, Chittagong, near Government City College, Chittagong
India
* New Market, Bhopal
*New Market, Kolkata
Jamaica
*New Market, Jam ...
intersection.
Around 13:15 pm, students from
BUET
The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology () commonly known by its acronym BUET, is a public technological research university in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Founded in 1876 as the Dacca Survey School and gaining univer ...
, the
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country.
The University of Dhaka w ...
, and several other universities marched towards the
High Court. Their progress was halted by the police near the
Bangladesh Shishu Academy
Bangladesh Shishu Academy () is the national academy for children in Bangladesh. It was established in 1976 by Ziaur Rahman for promoting cultural development of children, and nurturing their talents.
On 8 August 2024, after the fall of Sheikh ...
, resulting in the detention of several students. In response, the students gathered at
Doel Square
Doel Square (, Doel Chattar) is an area of the University of Dhaka campus located in Shahbag, Dhaka. There is a sculpture of two oriental magpie-robins in the middle of the area; the oriental magpie-robin is the national bird of Bangladesh and is ...
, later joined by teachers from Dhaka University's White Panel. The protest in Dhaka ended around 15:00 pm after nearly three hours of demonstration.
From 12:20 pm to 13:00 pm,
University of Rajshahi
The University of Rajshahi (), also known as Rajshahi University (RU), is a public research university located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is the second oldest and third largest university in Bangladesh. The university's 59 departments are or ...
students blocked the
Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway as part of the protest. Police detained five students from the university during the demonstration.
At 15:00 pm, after being shut down for 13 days, Facebook,
WhatsApp
WhatsApp (officially WhatsApp Messenger) is an American social media, instant messaging (IM), and voice-over-IP (VoIP) service owned by technology conglomerate Meta. It allows users to send text, voice messages and video messages, make vo ...
and other
social media platforms
Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the creation, sharing and aggregation of content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongst virtual communities and networks. Common features include:
* Online ...
were reopened.
1 August
In memory of those killed, injured, and tortured by police during the 2024 quota reform movement, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced a nationwide program titled "Remembering the Heroes" in 1 August. This announcement was made in a press release signed by Rifat Rashid, one of the coordinators of the
Anti-discrimination Students Movement
Students Against Discrimination () is a platform of student activists in Bangladesh formed in 2024 during the nationwide student-led quota reform movement. The group was involved in the ousting of the country's former prime minister Sheikh H ...
, on 31 July. Additionally, he called for online and offline campaigns in support of the movement and in memory of the martyrs, using the hashtags ''#
JulyMassacre'' and ''#RememberingOurHeroes'' on social media platforms.
At 12:30 PM, teachers and students of
Jahangirnagar University
Jahangirnagar University (, abbreviated as JU; initially started as Jahangirnagar Muslim University; ) is a fully residential public university, public research university located in Savar Upazila, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in ...
held a protest song rally and cultural gathering to protest the attacks on
Dhaka University
The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country.
The University of Dhaka was founded in 1921 ...
teachers, the mass arrests of protesting students and citizens, and the harassment through false cases. In solidarity with the movement, twelve teachers from the
Daffodil International University
Daffodil International University or (DIU) () is a private research university located in Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established on 24 January 2002 under the Private University Act of 1992. DIU is the largest ...
also participated in the JU event.
After the 24-hour ultimatum for the unconditional release of the six coordinators of the quota reform movement expired, several prominent citizens, including Iftekharuzzaman, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and Asif Nazrul, announced that they would go to the DB office on the afternoon of 1 August.
The government banned the
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh.
The origin of the party can be traced back to the original faction founded by Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi in 1941. The predecessor of Jamaat which is known as Ja ...
, its student wing, the
Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir
Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir, commonly known as Chhatrashibir or Shibir, is an Islamic student organisation in Bangladesh.
It was established in 1977 as the successor to the East Pakistani faction of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba colloquially known a ...
and its associated bodies citing
anti-terrorism law following their involvement in the protests. Until 1 August, 274 cases had been filed against students in various police stations in Dhaka Metropolitan. In these cases, up to the morning of 1 August, 3,011 students were arrested by the
Dhaka Metropolitan Police
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (; abbreviated as DMP) is the unit of Bangladesh Police responsible for law enforcement in the metropolis of Dhaka, the national capital and most populous city in Bangladesh. The DMP is the largest police force uni ...
.
The police released six coordinator from Detective Branch (DB) custody as the government looked to calm tensions and forestall fresh demonstrations. Upon being released from the DB office, several coordinators announced that they would continue the movement and shared their statements on social media.
In
Narayanganj
Narayanganj () is a city in central Bangladesh in the Greater Dhaka area. It is in the Narayanganj District, about southeast of the capital city of Dhaka. With a population of almost 1 million, it is the 6th largest city in Bangladesh. It is als ...
, the Candlelight Vigil program organized in support of "Remembering the Heroes" was disrupted by police intervention. During this time, the police baton-charged the students resulting in injuries at least ten.
2 August
The protesters sought justice for victims affected by the unrest and police crackdown following the release of student leaders. This release did not alleviate public anger, leading to renewed protests. Demonstrators demanded the reopening of schools and universities across the country and, called for
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
's resignation. Clashes occurred as police fired rubber bullets, tear gas shells, and sound grenades in several locations, including
Uttara
Uttara, which means "north" in Sanskrit and many other South Asian languages, may refer to:
Places
*Uttara (town), Uttara, a neighbourhood north of Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Uttara Export Processing Zone, Bangladesh
*Uttara East Thana
*Uttara West Thana ...
,
Khulna
Khulna (, ) is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chittagong. It is the administrative centre of the Khulna District and the Khulna Division. It is the divisional centre of 10 districts of the division. Khulna is also the seco ...
,
Sylhet
Sylhet (; ) is a Metropolis, metropolitan city in the north eastern region of Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative center for both the Sylhet District and the Sylhet Division. The city is situated on the banks of the Surma River and, as o ...
, and
Habiganj
Habiganj (), is a major town and district headquarters of Habiganj District in the division of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Total population of Habiganj is about 86,000.
Railroad
* Habiganj Bazar–Shaistaganj–Balla line
Shaistaganj-Habiganj rai ...
.
One police officer was beaten to death by protesters in Khulna,
while one civilian died in Habiganj.
Due to the renewed unrest, internet service providers again restricted access to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. After 5 hours of restriction, access to Facebook and Messenger were reopened; however Telegram remained restricted.
On the same day, the six coordinators, previously detained by the
Detective Branch
The Detective Branch (; abbreviated as DB) is a specialized unit of the Bangladesh Police. It mostly deals with investigative activities and special operations in sensitive cases and places. The main task of the detectives of this unit is to colle ...
, claimed they were coerced into issuing a retraction of their support for the movement, alleging that the statement was obtained under duress for national broadcast.
Following the ongoing violence and sabotage incidents centered around the quota reform movement, 78 HSC candidates arrested in related cases have been granted bail from various courts across the country. Among them, 55 are from the
Dhaka division
Dhaka Division () is an Divisions of Bangladesh, administrative division of Bangladesh. Dhaka serves as the capital city of Dhaka Division, the Dhaka District and Bangladesh. The division remains as a population magnet, and covers an area of 20, ...
, 14 from the
Chittagong division
Chittagong Division (), officially Chattogram Division, is geographically the largest of the eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It covers the southeasternmost areas of the country, with a total area of and a population according to th ...
, 6 from the
Khulna division
Khulna Division () is the second largest of the eight divisions of Bangladesh. It has an area of and a population of 17,416,645 at the 2022 Bangladesh census (preliminary returns). Its headquarters and largest city is Khulna city in Khulna Dist ...
, and 3 from the
Rangpur division
Rangpur Division (; ;
) is a first-level Divisions of Bangladesh, administrative division of Bangladesh. It covers the northernmost part of the country with a population of about 18 million inhabitants within an area of . Rangpur Division shar ...
.
The United Nations agency for children and culture,
UNICEF
UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
, has expressed concern over the
deaths of at least 32 children during the protest crackdown surrounding the 2024 Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh in July. Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, has urged swift measures to ensure the children can return to school.
3 August
In the early hours of the day, an injured person passed away while receiving treatment.
The then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed peaceful talks with the protesters, saying,
However, in the afternoon, central coordinator Nahid Islam announced that they had no plans to negotiate with the government. He stated:
Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, commented:
At the program,
freedom fighter
A freedom fighter is a person engaged in a struggle to achieve political freedom, particularly against an established government. The term is typically reserved for those who are actively involved in armed or otherwise violent rebellion.
Termi ...
Md. Sharif Hossain said,
At this time, he also called on all freedom fighters to take to the streets.
Around 10:30 AM on Saturday, students from various educational institutions in
Rajshahi
Rajshahi (, ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city and a major Urban area, urban, administrative, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous Rajshahi Division, division and Rajshahi Distr ...
marched and gathered in front of the
Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, commonly known by the acronym RUET, is a PhD granting, 2nd oldest public engineering and technological research university in Bangladesh. It specialises in the field of applied sciences, engineerin ...
(RUET), chanting slogans. The students took to the streets with a single demand: the resignation of the Prime Minister.
Students and ordinary people gathered at the
Central Shaheed Minar
The Shaheed Minar ( romanised: 'Shohid Minar' ) is a national monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established to commemorate those killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952 in then East Pakistan.
On 21 and 22 February 1952 ...
area with protest marches from different parts of the capital, At around 5:30 PM, Nahid Islam, one of the coordinator, addressed the assembled crowd at Shaheed Minar. where the
Anti-discrimination Students Movement
Students Against Discrimination () is a platform of student activists in Bangladesh formed in 2024 during the nationwide student-led quota reform movement. The group was involved in the ousting of the country's former prime minister Sheikh H ...
announced a single demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet and called for a comprehensive
non-cooperation movement
Non-cooperation movement may refer to:
* Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922), during the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule
* Non-cooperation movement (1971), a movement in East Pakistan
* Non-cooperatio ...
from 4 August, which marked the end of the quota protests.
The court has granted bail to Arif Sohel, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, but he has not been released yet.
In
Chittagong
Chittagong ( ), officially Chattogram, (, ) (, or ) is the second-largest city in Bangladesh. Home to the Port of Chittagong, it is the busiest port in Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. The city is also the business capital of Bangladesh. It ...
, there was an attack on the residence of Education Minister
Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury
Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, (born July 26, 1983) is a fugitive Bangladesh Awami League politician. He is a former minister of education and a former member the Jatiya Sangsad, from the constituency of Chittagong-9. Mohibul is regarded as o ...
. During this incident, two cars parked in front of the house were vandalized, and one of them was set on fire. Earlier, around 5:30 PM, there was also an attack on the office of
Md Mohiuddin Bacchu, the
Member of Parliament for
Chittagong-10
Chittagong-10 is a constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh.
Boundaries
The constituency encompasses Halishahar Cantonment and Chattogram City Corporation wards Sholokbahar Ward, 8, South Kattali Ward, ...
, located in the
Lalkhan Bazar. The office was set on fire during the attack. In another incident in
Sreepur
Sreepur () is a city in central Bangladesh, located in Gazipur District in the division of Dhaka. It is the administrative and urban centre of Sreepur Upazila. About 260,000 people live here which makes this city the 15th largest city in Ba ...
, Gazipur one person was killed during clashes between police and protesting students.
In
Rangpur
Rangpur may refer to:
Places In Bangladesh
*Rangpur Division, one of the eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh.
*Rangpur District, district of Bangladesh in Rangpur Division.
*Rangpur, Bangladesh, metropolis and a major city in northern ...
, two police officers have been temporarily suspended in connection with the death of
Abu Sayed
Abu Sayed (; 2 March 1999 – 16 July 2024) was a Bangladeshi student activist who Killing of Abu Sayed, was shot dead by the Bangladesh Police, police on 16 July 2024, while participating in the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, 2024 quo ...
, a student at
Begum Rokeya University
Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur () (abbreviated as BRUR), formerly Rangpur University, is a public research university in Rangpur, Bangladesh. Founded in 2008, it is the only generally categorized university in Rangpur Division and the second ...
and a key coordinator of the quota reform movement. The two officers are ASI Amir Hossain of Rangpur Police Lines and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy of Tajhat Police Station.
During an anti-discrimination student movement in
Sylhet
Sylhet (; ) is a Metropolis, metropolitan city in the north eastern region of Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative center for both the Sylhet District and the Sylhet Division. The city is situated on the banks of the Surma River and, as o ...
, clashes occurred between the police and the students along with the public. Initial reports indicate that over a hundred people were injured in the conflict.
At around 1:30 PM in Race Course,
Comilla
Comilla (), officially spelled Cumilla, is a metropolis on the banks of the Gomti River in eastern Bangladesh. Comilla was one of the cities of ancient Bengal. It was once the capital of Tripura kingdom. Comilla Airport is located in the Duli ...
, leaders and activists of the
Chhatra League
Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
,
Jubo League
The Bangladesh Awami Jubo League () commonly known as the Jubo League, is the first youth organization of Bangladesh founded by Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani. It is the youth wing of Bangladesh Awami League. Jubo league's current chairman is Sheikh F ...
, and
Swechchhasebak League attacked a mass rally of anti-discrimination student movement protesters. During the attack, they fired openly at the students, resulting in 10 students being shot and a total of 30 people being injured.
In
Bogra
Bogra (), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, officially Bogura, is a city located in Bogra District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. The city is a major commercial hub in North Bengal, Northern Bangladesh. It is the second largest city in te ...
, there were repeated clashes between protesting students and the police. From 4 PM to around 6 PM, these confrontations lasted nearly two hours. During the conflict, the police fired tear gas shells, sound grenades, rubber bullets, and shotgun rounds. Several areas of the city, including Satmatha, Circuit House Mor, Romena Afaz Road, Kalibari Mor, Bir Muktijoddha Rezaul Baki Road, and Jailkhana Mor, turned into battlegrounds. At least six students were shot, and an additional fifty students were injured.
Non-cooperation movement
4 August
The day became the deadliest of the protests with around 91 people killed, including 14 police officers. Clashes erupted between protesters and police while protesters blocked major highways. Police stations as well as Awami League offices where targeted by revolutionaries. Police forces shot tear gas and claimed to have fired rubber bullets although some people were injured and killed by actual bullets. The renewed demonstrations led the government to shut down internet and to declare an indefinite nationwide curfew stating from 6 p.m.
Hasina criticised the protesting students saying that those who engage in "sabotage" and destruction were no longer students but terrorists,
while the protesters called for her to resign.
5 August
Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
resigned
Resignation is the formal act of relinquishing or vacating one's office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term, or ...
and fled the country to India, "for her own safety" according to her son,
Sajeeb Wazed
Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy is a Bangladeshi businessman and politician. He is a member of the Bangladesh Awami League and served as an advisor to his mother, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on information and communication technology affairs ...
.
During a televised address to the nation,
Chief of the Army Staff
Chief of the Army Staff or Chief of Army Staff, which is generally abbreviated as COAS, is a title commonly used for the appointment held by the most senior staff officer or the chief commander in several nations' armies.
* Chief of Army Staff ( ...
General
Waker-uz-Zaman
Waker-Uz-Zaman (born 16 September 1966) is a four-star general of the Bangladesh Army who is the incumbent Chief of Army Staff. Earlier, he was the Chief of General Staff at Army Headquarters and the 15th Principal Staff Officer of Armed For ...
announced the resignation of Hasina and that an
interim government
A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
would be formed following talks with major political parties other than the
Awami League
The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
, the former prime minister's party.
Notes
References
{{Reflist
Bangladesh quota reform movement
Anti-discrimination Students Movement
2024 timelines
July Revolution (Bangladesh)