Saturday, 02 August, 2025
On August 1, 2024 — marked by protesters as “July 32” — law enforcement agencies obstructed student demonstrations during the “Remembering Our Heroes” programme organized by the anti-discrimination student movement across multiple parts of Bangladesh. Clashes between police and protesters erupted in some locations, and several students were reportedly detained.
The quota reform movement, which escalated into violent protests starting July 16 after six deaths caused by police firing in three districts, has since been referred to by demonstrators as the “July Massacre.”
Despite the Appellate Division overturning the High Court verdict on July 21 and ruling in favor of quota reform, public outrage remained unabated. Protesters declared they would continue to count August days as extensions of July until their demands were met — hence August 1 was called “July 32,” continuing through August 5 as “July 36,” when the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country, marking the movement’s success.
On August 1, students observed the programme nationwide. Besides students, teachers, lawyers, and citizens from various backgrounds participated in events held throughout the country.
In Dhaka, students from the Public Administration Department of Dhaka University held a protest procession from the Central Shaheed Minar, expressing solidarity with the movement’s nine-point demands. Earlier, teachers and staff of the same department staged a sit-in at the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture, condemning police attacks and repression against students and faculty.
The “Remembering Our Heroes” programme was also observed at universities including Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Jahangirnagar University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Barishal University, Rajshahi University, and Islamic University in Kushtia.
On July 31, the anti-discrimination student movement announced the “Remembering Our Heroes” programme to honor those killed or injured during the quota reform protests through memorial meetings, graffiti, wall writings, and festoons.
On August 1 evening, movement leader Abdul Kader issued a statement declaring nationwide prayers and mass rallies for August 2. The statement urged people from all walks of life to offer special prayers after Jumu’ah at mosques and at other places of worship, and to visit the graves of the martyrs. Mass rallies were planned across the country to protest the killings, arrests, and repression, and to demand fulfillment of the movement’s nine-point agenda.
Earlier that day, six coordinators of the student movement were released from custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Around 1:30 pm, they left the DB office in a government vehicle. Nahid Islam’s father, Badarul Islam, said families were contacted by phone that morning to come to the DB office for the release. The six coordinators, who had been on hunger strike for two days in custody, were transported home by DB officials.
Later on August 1, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act banning Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Meanwhile, the pro-Awami League Blue Panel at Dhaka University held a press conference on the general situation at the university and across the country. In a written statement, they claimed that the core demands of the student protesters had been met and urged students to withdraw from the movement.
At Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, teachers demanded justice for those killed during the quota reform protests, including Abu Sayeed, and called for ensuring student safety and restoring a healthy academic environment.
In New York, Bangladeshi-Americans protested in front of the United Nations Headquarters, condemning the violence, torture, killings, and arrests during the protests. They demanded justice and urged the diaspora to consider halting remittances in protest.
Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) also criticized the then-government, stating it lacked public mandate and thus had no right to remain in power due to its injustices.
Responding to Sheikh Hasina’s appeal, the United Nations expressed readiness to assist Bangladesh in investigating the violence and casualties during the quota reform movement. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed the organization’s willingness to provide support as needed.
Additionally, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification forming a three-judge commission of inquiry to investigate deaths, violence, sabotage, arson, looting, terrorism, and damage that occurred between July 16 and July 21 during the protests.
Comments
On August 1, 2024 — marked by protesters as “July 32” — law enforcement agencies obstructed student demonstrations during the “Remembering Our Heroes” programme organized by the anti-discrimination student movement across multiple parts of Bangladesh. Clashes between police and protesters erupted in some locations, and several students were reportedly detained.
The quota reform movement, which escalated into violent protests starting July 16 after six deaths caused by police firing in three districts, has since been referred to by demonstrators as the “July Massacre.”
Despite the Appellate Division overturning the High Court verdict on July 21 and ruling in favor of quota reform, public outrage remained unabated. Protesters declared they would continue to count August days as extensions of July until their demands were met — hence August 1 was called “July 32,” continuing through August 5 as “July 36,” when the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country, marking the movement’s success.
On August 1, students observed the programme nationwide. Besides students, teachers, lawyers, and citizens from various backgrounds participated in events held throughout the country.
In Dhaka, students from the Public Administration Department of Dhaka University held a protest procession from the Central Shaheed Minar, expressing solidarity with the movement’s nine-point demands. Earlier, teachers and staff of the same department staged a sit-in at the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture, condemning police attacks and repression against students and faculty.
The “Remembering Our Heroes” programme was also observed at universities including Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Jahangirnagar University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Barishal University, Rajshahi University, and Islamic University in Kushtia.
On July 31, the anti-discrimination student movement announced the “Remembering Our Heroes” programme to honor those killed or injured during the quota reform protests through memorial meetings, graffiti, wall writings, and festoons.
On August 1 evening, movement leader Abdul Kader issued a statement declaring nationwide prayers and mass rallies for August 2. The statement urged people from all walks of life to offer special prayers after Jumu’ah at mosques and at other places of worship, and to visit the graves of the martyrs. Mass rallies were planned across the country to protest the killings, arrests, and repression, and to demand fulfillment of the movement’s nine-point agenda.
Earlier that day, six coordinators of the student movement were released from custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Around 1:30 pm, they left the DB office in a government vehicle. Nahid Islam’s father, Badarul Islam, said families were contacted by phone that morning to come to the DB office for the release. The six coordinators, who had been on hunger strike for two days in custody, were transported home by DB officials.
Later on August 1, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act banning Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Meanwhile, the pro-Awami League Blue Panel at Dhaka University held a press conference on the general situation at the university and across the country. In a written statement, they claimed that the core demands of the student protesters had been met and urged students to withdraw from the movement.
At Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, teachers demanded justice for those killed during the quota reform protests, including Abu Sayeed, and called for ensuring student safety and restoring a healthy academic environment.
In New York, Bangladeshi-Americans protested in front of the United Nations Headquarters, condemning the violence, torture, killings, and arrests during the protests. They demanded justice and urged the diaspora to consider halting remittances in protest.
Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) also criticized the then-government, stating it lacked public mandate and thus had no right to remain in power due to its injustices.
Responding to Sheikh Hasina’s appeal, the United Nations expressed readiness to assist Bangladesh in investigating the violence and casualties during the quota reform movement. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed the organization’s willingness to provide support as needed.
Additionally, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification forming a three-judge commission of inquiry to investigate deaths, violence, sabotage, arson, looting, terrorism, and damage that occurred between July 16 and July 21 during the protests.
Comments
