Students declare protest 'tying red cloth' rejecting state mourning
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
The student protesters on July 29 last year declared protest programmes 'tying red cloth on mouth and eye' across the country for July 30, rejecting the government's decision to observe a national mourning day wearing 'black badge' to commemorate the people killed during the quota reform movement, reports BSS.
In the afternoon, on July 29, the government declared a national mourning day to be observed on July 30, urging the people across the country to observe the day by "wearing black badges" and offer special prayers at all mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and all other religious places seeking divine blessings for the souls of the people killed during the quota reform movement.
But in a reaction, the anti-discrimination student movement leaders rejected the government-declared mourning and announced to hold demonstrations across the country 'tying red cloth on mouth and eye' across the country on the same day.
Mahin Sarkar, a coordinator of the movement, declared the programme at around 09:30 pm that day by sending SMS to journalists.
Through the SMS, he said without ensuring justice for killings and torture, announcing mourning was nothing but mockery with the students and general people.
In the message Mahin reiterated their nine-point demands and urged all to stage demonstrations across the country 'tying red cloth on mouth and eye' on July 30 and upload photos on social media.
Soon after the announcement, the people from all strata across the country responded to the call and immediately started making their social media profile pictures 'red'.
Apart from students and general people, many celebrities also joined in, changing their Facebook profile photos to express solidarity with the student protesters.
Earlier, on the day, protesting students staged demonstrations and sit-ins in different parts of the country demanding an end to abductions and arrests, release of detainees, withdrawal of false cases, and justice for those killed during the protests.