On 3 August, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement. Nahid Islam said, "We haven't gone to August yet. We will go to August only after this July killings are judged."[8] As a result, the movement is known as the "July Revolution".[9]
In his address to the nation on 11 September, the chief adviser Muhammad Yunus referred to the events as the "July Revolution" and the "Student-Worker-Mass Uprising" against fascism.[10]
Background
After the Awami League was elected in the 2008 elections, they abolished the caretaker government system.[11] After that, it won three more consecutive national elections. There were allegations of massive rigging in the national elections held in 2014, 2018 and 2024. Meanwhile, except for the 2018 election, the remaining two elections were boycotted by most political parties in Bangladesh. During this time, the government carried out massive torture and arrests on their opponents, the top leaders of the opposition parties were sidelined by sentencing them in various cases.[12] At this time, dissemination of information in all media in Bangladesh was strictly regulated and freedom of public expression is strictly regulated through laws such as the Digital Security Act, 2018.[13][14]
During this period, the government used police forces as well as Awami League affiliates, especially the Chhatra League to control most movements, including non-political ones.[15] There were allegations of violence and repression in various campuses against Chhatra League.[16] In the last three terms, allegations of corruption and money laundering were raised against most leaders and government officials in all levels of the Awami League. Begumpara has been created with family members of Bangladeshis in Canada with money smuggled from Bangladesh, inflation in Bangladesh hit record highs for the past two years. In addition, shortage of reserves, wide spread of corruption, large amount of money laundering from the country, irregularities in loans of thousands of crores of rupees increased in the banking sector. Due to this, the cost of living of common people has increased and life became difficult day by day. As a result, they became angry with the government.[17]
In 2018, a mass movement started in Bangladesh demanding quota reform in government jobs, led by the General Students' Rights Protection Council. The main objective of this movement was to reform the ongoing quota system in Class I and II government jobs. Following the continuation of the agitation and pressure from the students, the government announced the abolition of the 46-year-old quota system.
However in 2021, seven children of freedom fighters, including Ahidul Islam, filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging this decision. Finally, on 5 June 2024, a High Court bench of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Khizir Hayat declared the decision to scrap the quota system invalid. Immediately after the announcement of the verdict, students started protesting against this verdict in various universities of the country.
The movement became more intense in July, with students staging blockades including the "Bangla Blockade". During this time, police used excessive force to quell the agitation led to clashes and a student named Abu Sayed was shot dead by the police in Rangpur. This incident intensified the movement and increased tension across the country.[18]
After that, the movement across the country including Dhaka became violent and many casualties were caused by the attacks of law enforcement agencies, Chhatra League and Jubo League in various places.[19] At this time, curfew was imposed across the country and the internet was shut down. The hearing date of the Appellate Division was later brought forward due to the agitation.[20]
Razakar slogans
Students of the University of Rajshahi using the Razakar slogans on 14 July 2024 at 11:30 p.m. (BST)
On 14 July, during a press conference, Sheikh Hasina responded to a question about the protests stating,
"If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't get quota benefits, will those then go to the grandchildren of the Razakars? That's my question to the countrymen."[21]
In response to Sheikh Hasina's comment, in the early hours of 15 July,[22] students began using slogans such as,
তুমি কে? আমি কে? রাজাকার, রাজাকার। কে বলেছে? কে বলেছে? স্বৈরাচার, স্বৈরাচার!
lit.'Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar. Who said it? Who said it? Autocrat, Autocrat!'.[23]
Protesters argued that Hasina’s statement indirectly labelled them as "Razakars" and demeaned them for advocating for quota reform, which led them to adopt the slogan.[24]
To prevent the movement from spreading nationwide, government ordered the internet to be shut down across the country. The nationwide shutdown of Internet access begun on 18 July continued into 19 July.[25]
Cloudflare Radar
@CloudflareRadar
English: Bangladesh is experiencing a near complete #Internet outage after a government-ordered shutdown of mobile networks. Traffic and announced address space dropped to near-zero around 15:00 UTC (21:00 local).
On 4 July, the Appellate Division, on 9 June declared the government's decision to cancel the Muktijoddha quota system in the first and second category of government jobs invalid without hearing the state party's application seeking a stay of the High Court's judgment. And upheld the verdict of the High Court for the time being. The state party is asked to file 'leave to appeal'. At that time, the then Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan said, the movement is happening, so be it. Do you change the verdict of the High Court by protesting on the streets?[27]
Later on 10 July, the Appellate Division issued a four-week status quo order on the High Court verdict along with some observations and directions in view of the petition filed by the state party and two students.[28] August 7 has been fixed for the next hearing.[29]
When the full judgment of the High Court was published on 14 July, leave to appeal was filed by the state and two students.[30] Based on the application of Attorney General AM Amin Uddin on 18 July, the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Justice M Inayetur Rahim fixed the date of hearing the case on Sunday, July 21.[31]
On 21 July, the Appellate Division reinstated the quota and quashed the judgment given by the High Court. At the same time, even though it is a policy-making matter for the government, in the interest of complete justice according to the constitution, the court ordered 93 percent merit-based recruitment in government jobs. On this day, for the first time in the history of Bangladesh, the proceedings of the Supreme Court were held under curfew.[32]
By early August 2024, the unrest resulted in a significant death toll. Initial official reports claimed 215 deaths,[33] but a United Nations investigation later confirmed that at least 650 people were killed.[34] In August, the Interim Government's Health and Welfare Adviser, Nurjahan Begum, reported that over 1,000 individuals had been killed in the uprising and more than 400 students had lost their eyesight. Additionally, more than 20,000 were injured, and over 11,000 were arrested nationwide. Among the deceased were at least 32 children, according to UNICEF.[35] The exact number of casualties remains uncertain due to government restrictions on information, including reports that hospitals were barred from sharing data, CCTV footage was confiscated, and some victims were buried without identification. As of September the death toll is over one thousand.[36][37]
The massacre, which have been referred to as the "July massacre" prompted significant criticism and calls for accountability. The University Teachers Network held a demonstration at the University of Dhaka, expressing concern over the violence.[38]
Protibadi Nagorik Somaj condemned the killings during the movement, describing them as a massacre and expressing doubts about the judiciary's ability to deliver impartial justice, as the inquiry commission was formed by the fifth Hasina government, which is also accused of involvement in the massacre. Some academics rejected the government-established public inquiry commission, calling for intervention from the United Nations.[39]
In Sylhet, Nagorik Alem Somaj organized a protest criticizing the killings.[40]
Sheikh Hasina, in her first public statement published through his son Sajeeb Wazed, since being ousted from power, called for an investigation into the deaths during the protests, while also asserting that the police and the Awami League were victims of "terrorist aggression."[41]
The Left Democratic Alliance, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and the Anti-Fascist Left Front criticized the Awami League government rule, urging financial compensation for the families of those killed in the protests and free medical care for the injured.[45] Similarly, the National Democratic Party demanded ৳10 million in compensation for the families of those who died during the massacre, along with a government job for at least one member of each affected family.[46]
Islami Andolan Bangladesh called for an independent tribunal to ensure justice for the victims of the massacre.[47] In addition, the People's Rights Party called for all political parties within the Grand Alliance, including Awami League, to be barred from future elections.[48]
On 4 August, thousands of protesters gathered at the Shahbag intersection in the morning, obstructing it as a form of civil disobedience to demand the government's resignation.[49]
At least 97 people died nationwide in confrontations, shootings, and pursuits related to the Non-cooperation movement. Fourteen police officers were killed across the country, with 13 deaths occurring at the Enayetpur police station in Sirajganj. Another officer was killed in Eliotganj, Comilla.[50] Twenty-seven police facilities were attacked and vandalized, and a hundred policemen were injured in these incidents, according to an official statement by the Bangladesh Police.[51]
In Dhaka, unidentified individuals set fire to and damaged various vehicles, including cars, ambulances, motorcycles, and buses, at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University during the protests.[52] Around 4.30 p.m., eleventh-grade student Golam Nafiz was shot by the police in Dhaka Farmgate area, whose photo of being taken to the hospital on rickshaw went viral on internet, creating high outrage by netizens.[53] By 12:00 p.m., users across the country reported internet inaccessibility.[54] The government ordered the closure of Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, and all other Meta-owned services, directing internet service providers to comply after 1:00 p.m.[55]
The government declared a three-day general holiday starting from 5 August, during which banks will also remain closed.[56] The Anti-Discrimination Students Movement confirmed their intention to march towards Dhaka on 6 August to demand the Prime Minister's resignation.[57] The Bangladesh University Teachers' Network proposed a framework for an interim government, suggesting it be composed of teachers, judges, lawyers, and representatives from civil society, reflecting the views of various civil and political groups for a democratic transition.[58]
Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, announced that their march to Dhaka had been rescheduled to 5 August, instead of 6 August. He called on protesters and civilians nationwide to march toward the capital and participate in civil disobedience.[59]
Several former Bangladesh Army officers, including former chief of staff Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, held a press briefing urging soldiers to return to camps and refrain from getting involved in the political crisis or being used against civilians.[60][61]
Retired Brig. Gen. M. Sakhawat Hossain stated that there was significant unease among the troops, which likely pressured the chief of army staff as soldiers were deployed and witnessing the events. Retired officers, including Brig. Gen. Mohammad Shahedul Anam Khan, defied the curfew on Monday and took to the streets, with Khan noting that the army did not intervene. In response to calls for a march to Dhaka, DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman warned of zero tolerance, stating that legal action would be taken against curfew violators.[62]
The Anti-discrimination Students Movement rejected the curfew and encouraged everyone to march towards the Ganabhaban and Prime minister's office.[63]
Reports indicated Sheikh Hasina had been moved to a secure location.[64] On the same day, up to 135 people, including 24 police officers, were killed during protests.[65]
Resignation of Sheikh Hasina
Hasina resigned on 5 August 2024, as large crowds of demonstrators surrounded the prime minister's residence.[66] Her resignation was announced by General Waker-uz-Zaman, the Chief of the Army Staff.[d] Later that day, Hasina fled to India in a chaotic departure, first by car, then by helicopter, and finally by plane.[66] She left with no resignation speech.[66]
Hasina reportedly flew in a Bangladesh Air ForceC-130transport to Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad, India, where she was received by the Indian national security advisorAjit Doval along with other senior military officials.[e] Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar told the Parliament, "At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India."[66] Her son, Sajeeb Wazed, initially said that she would not return to politics and planned to "stay in Delhi for a little while" before her next destination, but subsequently said on 7 August that she and the Awami League would remain active in the Bangladeshi political scene[75][76] and that she would return to the country once elections were declared.[77] He also insisted that Sheikh Hasina was still the prime minister, saying that she was unable to formally submit her resignation after being forced to flee from the protesters.[78] Hasina had hoped to go to London, but the United Kingdom reportedly rebuffed initial overtures seeking political asylum. She reportedly considered seeking temporary residence in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, or Qatar. Because her nephew lives in Finland, that country was speculated as a possible destination. Although Sajeeb Wazed lives in the U.S., she is considered unlikely to seek asylum there, as the U.S. government criticized her rule in Bangladesh.[79]
Hasina was living in a secret location in India under tight security as of August 2024.[80] Sajeeb Wazed said that the protests which led to her resignation had support from a foreign intelligence agency, without naming any country.[81] In a statement published in the Indian media on 11 August, she accused the United States of influencing her resignation, and previously accused the United States of conspiring to oust her in the Jatiya Sangsad.[82] However, Wazed called the statement "false and fabricated" and said Hasina "did not give any statement before or after leaving Dhaka".[83] The White House also denied allegations of any US involvement.[84] On 13 August, Hasina released her first confirmed statements since her overthrow published by Wazed Joy calling for an investigation into the killings made during the protests, while insisting that police and the Awami League were also victims of "terrorist aggression".[85]
On 4 August, thousands of protesters convened at Dhaka's Shahbag intersection in the morning, obstructing it as a form of civil disobedience to demand the resignation of the government.[86] This was followed by hundreds of casualties.[87] The following day, the protesters called for the Long March to Dhaka in defiance of a nationwide curfew to press Sheikh Hasina to resign.[88]
The long march of crowded people to Ganabhaban forced her to resign. She, along with her sister Sheikh Rehana, then fled the country to India via military on 5 August 2024.[89][90]
By early August 2024, the unrest resulted in a significant death toll. Initial official reports claimed 215 deaths,[91] but a United Nations investigation later confirmed that at least 650 people were killed.[34] In August, the Interim Government's Health and Welfare Adviser, Nurjahan Begum, reported that over 1,000 individuals had been killed in the uprising and more than 400 students had lost their eyesight. Additionally, more than 20,000 were injured, and over 11,000 were arrested nationwide. Among the deceased were at least 32 children, according to UNICEF.[92] The exact number of casualties remains uncertain due to government restrictions on information, including reports that hospitals were barred from sharing data, CCTV footage was confiscated, and some victims were buried without identification. As of September the death toll is over one thousand.[93][94]
Bangladesh's army chief Waker-uz-Zaman, announced on 5 August 2024, that an interim government will be formed in the country after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India.[109]
A constitutional crisis emerged on August 5, 2024, following Sheikh Hasina's resignation, because the existing constitution has no provisions for an interim government or any other form of government in the event that the prime minister resigns and the parliament is dissolved. Although Article 123 of the constitution mandates general elections within 90 days following the dissolution of parliament, no clear guidelines exist for the powers and structure of an interim government. Following the oath-taking of the interim government, student leader and ICT adviser Nahid Islam announced that a constituent assembly election would be held to draft and adopt a new constitution to resolve the crisis. The interim government also established a Constitutional Reform Commission to prepare a roadmap for the constituent assembly election.
On August 10, 2024, a plenary meeting of the Appellate Division judges was scheduled,[112][113] a move considered irregular and unconstitutional by many observers, including LDP Secretary-general Redwan Ahmed.[114] This meeting was perceived as a prelude to issuing a ruling that could undermine the interim government and potentially pave the way for Hasina’s return.[115]
Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, called for protests to be held at the Supreme Court premise.[116] Mass protests erupted outside the Supreme Court, with hundreds of students under the banner of Anti-discrimination Students Movement, lawyers, and civil society members demanding Hassan's resignation.[117] They accused him of attempting to use the judiciary to restore Hasina to power, calling him a "puppet" of the former regime. Asif Mahmud, one of the Adviser to the interim government, criticized Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan for convening a full court meeting of the court's Appellate Division without consulting the government and demanded his resignation. The judges including Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigned following the protests.
Subsequent protests
Police strike
On 6 August, the Bangladesh Police Service Association initiated a strike, demanding for enhanced security measures for its members. The association expressed regret for the role of the police force in the recent unrest and violence. It stated that its officers were "forced to open fire", subsequently being portrayed as the "villain."[118] Students and several paramilitary personnel were subsequently seen directing traffic and maintaining law and order functions in Dhaka,[119] while Bangladesh Air Force personnel were deployed to secure Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.[120] The newly-appointed Inspector-General of Police, Md. Moinul Islam, issued an order for all officers to report for duty by the evening of 8 August.[121] On 11 August, retired Brigadier General M Sakhawat Hossain, serving as the adviser for home affairs in the interim government, appealed to police officers to resume their duties at their respective stations. He provided assurances that their grievances would be addressed and their demands fulfilled.[122] The strike ended on 11 August following a meeting between the association and the interim government.[123] By 15 August, regular operations at all 639 police stations nationwide had resumed.[124]
Bangladesh Bank protest
On 7 August, several officials from the Bangladesh Bank initiated a protest near the governor's office. Their objective was to compel the resignation of certain high-ranking officials due to their alleged involvement in corruption.[125] That same day, one of the bank's deputy governors resigned, with three others expressing their intention to follow suit. On 9 August, the bank's governor, Abdur Rouf Talukder, resigned from his position, citing personal reasons.[126]
On 9 August, the Bangladesh Hindu Jagran Mancha organized a protest in Dhaka condemning the attacks on Hindus.[127] The group called for the establishment of a Ministry of Minorities and a Minority Protection Commission, the implementation of strict laws against attacks on minorities, and a 10% quota in parliament for minority groups.[128] Protests against anti-Hindu attacks were also held in Tangail and Khulna.[129][130]
Awami League demonstration
On 9 August, thousands of Awami League supporters staged a two-hour blockade on a section of the Dhaka–Khulna highway in Gopalganj, demanding Sheikh Hasina's return.[131] The next day, an intervention by the army to disperse the protestors escalated into a confrontation. The clash resulted in 15 individuals being injured and an army vehicle being set ablaze.[132]
Resistance Week
On 13 August, the Anti-discrimination Students Movement announced a campaign called Resistance Week, centred around four key demands. These demands included the creation of a special tribunal for the speedy trials of the massacre during the quota reform and non-cooperation movements; justice for the attacks on minorities following Sheikh Hasina's resignation; the removal of government officials who supported the government, opposed the movement and suppressed the activists; and ensuring equality for discriminated officials in government sectors.[133]
Occupation of Dhanmondi 32
On August 15, protesters occupied the Dhanmondi 32 area of Dhaka to prevent Awami League supporters from marching to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence to commemorate the anniversary of his assassination in 1975, a day designated by the Hasina administration as a National Day of Mourning.[134] Thirty people were held by protesters on suspicion of association with the Awami League, particularly those who were found to be carrying images of Sheikh Mujibur or other information relating to the Awami League in their possession or on mobile phones.[135] Protesters were also accused of harassing journalists filming the event following complaints by correspondents from Reuters, The New York Times, and other media outlets.[136] An Awami League activist was injured in the incident and later succumbed of his injuries on 30 August.[137]
The BNP also called for a nationwide sit-in on 15 and 16 August, demanding that Sheikh Hasina be put on trial for genocide in connection with the killings of protesters.[138]
On 25 August 2024, a faction of the Bangladesh Ansar, a paramilitary force responsible for securing government installations and assisting law enforcement, protested at the Bangladesh Secretariat.[139] They demanded the nationalisation of their jobs and the abolition of the six-month "rest system", a mandatory leave period after three consecutive years of work.[140][141] Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Home Affairs Advisor of the interim government, met with the protesters, announcing a preliminary decision to abolish the rest system. He also assured them that a forthcoming committee would review their demand for job nationalisation.[142] Despite this, the Ansar members were dissatisfied due to the lack of immediate guarantees regarding job nationalisation.[143] Later that day, a clash between Ansar members and a group of students resulted in 50 injuries.[144] On 26 August, 303 Ansar members were arrested for unlawful assembly,[145] and nine Deputy Directors and ten Directors of Ansar were transferred from their posts.[146] The DMP prohibited any rallies, meetings, or demonstrations in the vicinity of the Bangladesh Secretariat and the Chief Adviser's residence.[147] One person later died of injuries they sustained after being caught in the clashes on 4 September.[148]
Jumma protest
On 20 September, a protest march was organized by a Jumma students' body, starting from the Raju Sculpture and ending at Shahbag, to protest against the recent violence targeting Jummas in Khagrachhari.[149]
The ouster of Sheikh Hasina's regime marked a significant shift in Bangladesh's national politics. Democratic advocates have been reinvigorated, though they face ongoing instability. Geopolitically, both India and China had supported Hasina due to their security and economic interests, while the United States, despite strained relations, considered her government a strategic partner. With her removal, international observers are cautiously monitoring the potential emergence of a more democratic Bangladesh, propelled by the momentum of the movement.[150]
The collapse of Sheikh Hasina's regime has significant geopolitical implications, particularly for India and China. India's strategic position is affected, as Hasina's government played a key role in maintaining India's influence in Bangladesh, especially through regional connectivity and economic projects. Conversely, China may find opportunities to expand its influence amid the upheaval. However, China's potential gains are moderated by Bangladesh's political uncertainty, economic challenges, and the involvement of other international actors, such as the United States.[151]
Financial
On 6 August, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw a positive reaction from investors during its first opening following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. The broad-based index of the DSE, known as DSEX, experienced its largest increase since 3 January. A total of twelve stocks reached their upper circuits, which permit a maximum daily price increase of 10%. This marked a significant improvement from the previous few weeks of student protests, during which most stocks were hitting their lower circuits, restricting the daily price fall to no more than 3%. The indices began with a substantial upward gap, which is considered the strongest opening in the last three to four years.[152][153]
On 13 August, a murder complaint was filed at a court in Dhaka against Sheikh Hasina and six other government officials, including former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Transport and Bridges Minister and concurrent Awami League secretary-general Obaidul Quader, regarding the killing of a grocer during the protests on 19 July.[154][155] That same day, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party also submitted a formal request to the United Nations requesting for it to conduct an international investigation into the killings during the protests.[156] In a phone call with chief adviser Muhammad Yunus on 14 August, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said that such an investigation would come "very soon".[157]
On 14 August, a petition was filed by the father of a student killed during the protests at the International Crimes Tribunal calling for an investigation on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity against Sheikh Hasina and nine other individuals, including Obaidul Quader and Asaduzzaman Khan over their role in the crackdown on the protests. The Awami League itself and its associated organisations were also named as accused in the petition, which was formally investigated on by the court later that day.[158] The court began legal proceedings to have Sheikh Hasina extradited on 8 September.[159] On 15 August, two additional murder charges were filed against Sheikh Hasina and several of her associates over the deaths of two people during the protests.[160][161] On 16 August, another murder charge was filed against Sheikh Hasina, former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury and several others over the death of a college student during the protests in Chittagong on 18 July.[162]
On 17 August, former shipping minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury was charged over an attack on a student protest on 18 July.[163]
On 27 August, the interim government dissolved a committee created under Sheikh Hasina's government to investigate the deaths of students during the protests.[164]
The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal, Tajul Islam, said that he had received preliminary evidence of the presence of citizens of other countries in police uniforms during the protest.[165]
Controversies
Indian involvement
On September 1, 2024, Bonn-based bilingual magazineThe Mirror Asia alleged in a report that, following a directive from the Hasina government on July 16 to use force against student protesters, 400 officers trained by Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) were deployed to Dhaka at the request of Sheikh Hasina and India's security advisorAjit Doval. According to the report, these officers were involved in suppressing the movement using methods similar to those used in Kashmir and returned to Delhi on July 28. The magazine also alleged that R&AW, having been unaware of subsequent developments, was later affected by CIA tactics on August 5.[166][167][168][169][better source needed] On August 5, 2024, the day of Sheikh Hasina's resignation, several video clips surfaced online, showing a group of foreign armed personnel departing the country by air from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.[170][171] On September 25, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tajul Islam, announced that preliminary investigations indicated the involvement of non-Bengali speaking armed officials in the massacre of protesters. The victims have alleged that these individuals were Hindi speakers.[170][171]
US Involvement
Some source has suggested possible White House involvement in the student-led protests and the appointment of Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser to the interim government. While the White House has categorically denied these claims, the Chinese strategic community views the allegations of foreign interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs with some credibility. Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s statement, in which she claimed her government could have remained in power if she had ceded sovereignty over St. Martin's Island and allowed the U.S. greater control in the Bay of Bengal, has resonated within China's strategic circles. Zhang Sheng, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of American Studies, points to three factors behind the alleged U.S. involvement: a strategy of asserting authority through a "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" approach, the Biden administration’s "opportunistic" stance, and Bangladesh’s geopolitical significance in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy.[172][better source needed]
Rumors of alleged U.S. interest in St. Martin Island date back to 2003. At the time, U.S. AmbassadorMary Ann Peters dismissed media speculation that Washington was eager to lease a military base from Dhaka to position its forces between the Far and Middle East.[173][174]
Role of women
A group of women protesting at ShahbaghA group of female protesters, with one protester carrying a sign চেয়েছিলাম অধিকার, হয়ে গেলাম রাজাকার ("Sought for rights, got into a Razakar")
The movement witnessed an unusual number of women participating, which is rare in the history of Bangladesh. Usually, women in Bangladesh have not been much involved in political demonstrations. Experts think that the involvement of women in this movement was accelerated due to the mass participation of young female students from universities.[175] One of the key coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, Nusrat Tabassum, was also a woman.[176]
Legacy
A rickshaw puller in Dhaka's Uttara sings a song he wrote about the student uprising.
Young protesters used the non-standard dateJuly 36 to commemorate 5 August, in memory of those who lost their lives during the quota reform movement in July 2024. The term "July 36" appeared in various graffiti and murals made by the students around the country.[177]
Reception
A graffiti of Gen Z drawn by the students, showing various media which played a key role organising the movement, including Jamuna TV
The movement has been dubbed the world's first successful "Gen Z revolution" by several international media, as it was organized and led by Generation Z leaders.[f] John Reed of the Financial Times called it the "Monsoon Revolution".[182] Bangladeshi political analyst Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah called it "Bangla Spring" saying people refer the movement by it.[183]
Paintings and graffiti
Some graffiti after the revolution
The quota reform movement and its sequel the non-cooperation movement was a spontaneous movement in the history of Bangladesh. All parties, religions, castes, castes, men and women took the movement to a new level. In this movement, many painters from the country and abroad gave courage to the agitators by painting various paintings.
Hundreds of satirical, satirical and satirical cartoons and paintings were produced in just three weeks of the movement in July–August. Political cartoons like slogans encouraged this movement. Ahsan Habib, the legendary cartoonist of Bangladesh published a cartoon on 3 August 2024. It can be seen that an hourglass has been painted on red. Above the clock and then there is nominal sand to go down, it says 'count down'..In addition, in this movement, Nazmus Sadat's cartoons of the hand pulling the barrel of the gun towards him, Asif Mahbub's drawing of the bloody phone, Risham Shahab Tirtha's drawing of the democracy by the security forces and the Chhatra League's brutal forces or the student group's cartoons holding the soles of the police boots have clarified the situation with the message of the incident during the movement.[184]
Music
The song "Awaaz Utha" released during the quota reform movement in Bangladesh. The song's composer, Hannan, was arrested by the police on 25 July from Narayanganj, a week after the release of the song.[185]New York-based non-profit organisation Artist at Risk Connection (ARC) condemned the arrest.[186]
The song became very popular with the audience around the quota reform movement.[185][187] In just 13 days, it received over six million views on YouTube, making it the fifth most trending song on YouTube in Bangladesh at that time period.[186]
Media Coverage
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July Memorial Foundation
On 20 August, the interim government announced the establishment of a foundation to be headed by Chief Advisor. Muhammad Yunus dedicated to the welfare of participants of the quota reform and non-cooperation movement who were killed and injured during the protests as well as that of their families.[188]
Museum
On 5 September, the interim government revealed plans to open Ganabhaban to the public, transforming it into the "July Revolution Memorial Museum" while preserving its original state as it was left after the storming.[189] On the same day, the Anti-discrimination Students Movement organized a procession called the "Shahidi March (lit.'Martyrs March')" to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the movement.[190]
^ abPreliminary Analysis of Recent Protests and Unrest in Bangladesh (Report). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2024-08-16. pp. 6–7. According to available public reports by media and the protest movement itself, between 16 July and 11 August, more than 600 people were killed. Of these, nearly 400 deaths were reported from 16 July to 4 August, while around 250 people were reportedly killed following the new wave of protests between 5 and 6 August. [...] The reported death toll is likely an underestimate, as information collection has been hindered by restrictions on movement due to the curfew and the internet shutdown. Furthermore, hospitals were reportedly prevented by State authorities from providing details of those killed and injured. The majority of deaths and injuries have been attributed to the security forces and the student wing affiliated with the Awami League.
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