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FROM STUDENT PROTEST TO MASS UPRISING

How it spread like a rapid fire

ARMAN HOSSEN | July 20, 2025 00:00:00


The July Mass Uprising of 2024, a revolutionary incident in Bangladesh's political history, began as a student protest against the reinstatement of quota system in government jobs and quickly escalated into a nationwide movement that ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and reshaped the country's political landscape.

The spark was lit on 5 June 2024, when the High Court issued a verdict to reinstate 56 percent quota in first and second-grade government jobs, a system that had previously been scrapped in 2018 following mass student protests. In sudden reaction, students at Dhaka University launched demonstrations against the decision.

A group of student leaders from Ganatantrik Chhatra Shakti -- Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Abu Bakar Mazumder, Abdul Quader -- alongside active participants like Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, led the movement under the banner of the "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement."

Abdul Quader, a forefront coordinator, used to contact several student organisations and stakeholders from beginning of the movement. After the arrest of 6 senior coordinators at the Detective Branch, he played a key role in continuing and scheduling several events in consultation with several stakeholders. FE contacted him to know how they coordinated the movement and helped spread it.

Quader said that at first, the movement struggled to gain momentum due to university closures during the summer and Eid holidays. However, by the end of June, the protests began to regain energy. From 1 July, students started boycotting classes and exams, and their numbers grew steadily. Despite resistance from the ruling party's student organisation Chhatra League, participation continued to increase. The active involvement of female students further strengthened the movement.

"From the very beginning, we tried to keep the protest free from any political affiliation, for which we formed an inclusive coordinator team. We didn't make any single person a top leader; rather, we kept alternative leadership to continue the movement during one's absence," Abdul Quader said.

Each day, students gathered in front of the DU Central Library before marching to various locations -- sometimes within the campus, and sometimes to major points like Nilkhet, Science Lab, Shahbagh, and the High Court -- blocking roads and staging demonstrations.

On 14 July evening, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina referred to the protesters as "Razakar's grandchildren," a remark that triggered widespread outrage. In response, students organized a powerful midnight procession, chanting, "Who are you, who am I? Razakar! Razakar!"

On 15 July, a massive rally took place at the Raju Sculpture. That day, Chhatra League activists reportedly locked protesting students inside halls. When others attempted to intervene, a violent clash broke out from Bijoy Ekattor Hall. Students were attacked by Chhatra League members from several units in city corporation areas, leaving many injured.

The following day, 16 July, the movement reached a turning point. People from all segments of society began joining the protests. That day, six students were killed, including Abu Sayed in Rangpur and Wasim Akram in Chattogram. On 17 July, students drove Chhatra League members out from DU dormitories. During a Gayebana Janaza for the deceased protesters, joint forces attacked again using tear gas and batons.

"Sheikh Hasina's remarks -- 'Razakar's grandchildren' -- in an oblique reference to protesters, attack on female students by Chhatra League, the killing of Abu Sayed and others erupted the movement nationwide. Besides, one of the major causes was that people could rely on student coordination, sparking them to take such life risks," Abdul Quader stated.

However, the protests quickly spread nationwide. In response, the government shut down internet services and imposed a curfew. Six key student leaders were detained by the Detective Branch, yet the movement continued to grow. Students from private universities, madrasas, and the general public as well as political activists joined the movement.

Despite the arrests and crackdowns, junior student coordinators kept the protests going, coordinating schedules and mobilisations across the country. "I placed historical nine-point demands after consulting with some leaders of a student organisation during the time, which added a fresh impetus to the movement," Abdul Quader added.

He further added that they regularly planned programmes and shared video messages. After being released from the Detective Branch (DB) office, senior co-ordinators were initially confused about the state of the movement, leading to some misunderstandings.

At that point, Nahid Islam asked them (Abdul Quader, Mahin Sharker, Rifat Rashid, and Abdul Hannan Masud) to continue the movement, saying they would join a few days later.

"On the night of 2nd August, a group of individuals came to me and proposed announcing the one-point demand. We -- four of us -- set a condition that they must ensure our family safety and they assured. At that time, one of us contacted Nahid Islam. He was not in favour of announcing it immediately. However, the statement and video were already prepared in Bangla and English for announcement. Later, Nahid Islam agreed to announce it from a field."

On 3 August, Nahid Islam issued the final demand at Central Shaheed Minar -- Sheikh Hasina and her government's resignation and banishment of fascism -- and called for a "March to Dhaka" on 5 August. Millions of people joined it.

Finally, Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 5 August and the people claimed victory. The July mass uprising, powered by the sacrifice of nearly two thousand lives and injuries to thousands more, brought about a new wave of hope for more justice and democracy in the country.

armanhossen7971@gmail.com


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