As a Bangladeshi, the 2024 student protests have been a vivid and heart-wrenching reminder of the government’s inability to understand the demands of the youth. Instead of engaging in constructive dialogue, the administration has chosen to undermine and suppress the movement, significantly underestimating our resilience and determination.
The recent announcement of protest withdrawal, orchestrated by the regime and involving the coerced statements of detained student leaders, was intended to demoralize us. However, this theatrical performance backfired.
We saw through this facade, dismissing it as a desperate attempt to suppress our legitimate demands. The prevailing sentiment among us is clear: "Job’s not finished yet."
Our universities, both public and private, have issued statements affirming their support for our demands. They have made it clear that until these demands are met, the protests will continue. Social media is ablaze with messages of solidarity, with many declaring that every student is now a coordinator of the movement.
Escalation of Security Measures
In response to the announcement of resumed protests on July 29th, the government significantly escalated security measures across Dhaka. Heavily armed army personnel, police troops, and even helicopters were deployed to various parts of the city. The authorities also resorted to using sound grenades to intimidate and disperse us.
Despite these heavy-handed tactics, we remained undeterred. Attempts to prevent gatherings at major universities like BRAC and North South University only strengthened our resolve. The sight of army officers and police troops blocking streets and chasing us with batons underscored the government’s strategy of suppression rather than dialogue.
The day of July 29th stands as a stark reminder of the government's relentless pursuit to suppress our protests. From the early hours of the morning, the city of Dhaka saw an unprecedented deployment of security forces. Army personnel, equipped with Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), were stationed in strategic locations, while police troops patrolled the streets, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear.
Students from different universities and colleges staged demonstrations across the country, including in Dhaka and Chattogram, to protest the detention of six coordinators of the quota reform movement by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The detainees were reportedly forced to issue a statement calling for an end to the protests.
In Chattogram, police detained at least 10 students after breaking up a protest by some 100 students in the Jamal Khan area in the afternoon. Witnesses reported that university and college students gathered at Cheragi intersection around 3:00 pm to hold a rally. A large number of police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Armed Police Battalion (APBn), and army personnel were deployed in the area. Tension rose when 100-150 leaders and activists of the Jubo League and Chhatra League, led by Chattogram City Corporation ward-21 Councillor Saibal Das Sumon, reached the area and verbally abused the protesters.
At one stage, Jubo League and Chhatra League men beat up two students and handed them over to the police, who then detained them in a prison van. As some of us attempted to free the detainees, police used truncheons.
We then gathered near the Kadam Mubarak mosque and chanted slogans. Around 4:00 pm, police fired stun grenades and teargas canisters at us. Three police officers and a journalist, videographer Abu Jabed of News 24 TV, were injured in the incident.
Another group of us threw bricks at police near Andarkilla Shahi Jame Masjid around 5:00 pm, prompting law enforcers to fire rubber bullets and teargas at us. Mostafizur Rahman, deputy commissioner (south) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, stated that police took action because all gatherings and protests were banned during the curfew pause.
In the capital, law enforcers detained at least 70 people from different areas. Abdul Kader, a coordinator of the quota reform protest, had announced on social media that we would stage demonstrations at eight locations in Dhaka. These included Science Lab, Gate-8 of North South University, Jatiya Press Club, BNS Centre in Uttara, Mirpur-10, ECB Chattar in Mirpur, Rampura, and Mohakhali. Witnesses said several hundred protesters gathered near the ECB Chattar around noon. Police chased us around 1:00 pm when we started chanting slogans, detaining at least 18 demonstrators there.
Police also detained at least 10 protesters from Mirpur-10 intersection, 10 from in front of Star Kabab in Dhanmondi, two from Purana Paltan, six from Badda, and 10 from Uttara.
Students at Jahangirnagar University held a protest demanding the unconditional release of the coordinators of the quota reform protest and the other detainees. Several JU teachers expressed solidarity with us.
In Rajshahi, several hundred students from Rajshahi University blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway from 12:20 pm to 1:00 pm, protesting the detention of the six coordinators. They chanted slogans demanding justice for the deaths of fellow students and accountability for those responsible. At Barishal University, Chhatra League activists allegedly attacked protesters near the university's administrative building, injuring at least 15 students.
In Noakhali, students blocked the Dhaka-Noakhali highway in front of Noakhali Zilla School from 2:00 pm for three hours. In Thakurgaon, over 200 students took out a procession with black flags demanding justice for the recent killings of students. In Mymensingh, police broke up a demonstration by students in the city's Firoz-Jahangir Chattar in the afternoon. In Cumilla, pro-Awami League men, armed with sticks and iron rods, obstructed around 60 Comilla University students from moving towards the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
We later staged demonstrations in front of the university around 3:00 pm. In Sylhet, a group of students from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology staged a protest at the main entrance to the university at 3:00 pm and later took out a procession.
Broadening of the Movement
What began as a movement for quota reform has now evolved into a broader struggle encompassing all citizens of Bangladesh. Teachers at Dhaka University have joined the protests, rallying against the mass arrests and the government's violent crackdown on students. Their presence and support highlight the widespread discontent with the government's approach and the growing unity among various segments of society.
The authorities are engaged in a strategic cat-and-mouse game, setting up blockades and deploying troops to prevent us from assembling in large numbers. Police have been seen chasing down students and arresting them in various areas of Dhaka.
On July 29th alone, 34 of us were detained for participating in the protests. This relentless pursuit of protesters, often without legal justification, further fuels our determination.
The continued mass arrests and use of brute force have prompted several legal professionals to take the issue to the High Court. While there have been no reported deaths recently, the ongoing arrests and harassment underscore the urgent need for judicial intervention and protection of civil rights.
Despite the oppressive environment, there remains a glimmer of hope. The movement has garnered widespread support, transcending student circles and resonating with citizens across the country. The courage displayed by university teachers and the legal fraternity's involvement signify a collective push towards justice and reform.
Next Steps for the Protesters
In a recent press release, the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement outlined our next steps to continue pressing for our nine-point demands. Coordinators have called for us to engage in a symbolic protest by covering our faces and eyes with red cloths, taking photos, and widely disseminating these images online. This action is a direct response to the government's refusal to acknowledge our demands and the continued violent suppression of our movement.
The statement from the movement's coordinator, Md. Mahin Sarker, emphasized the severe repression we are facing, drawing parallels to the brutal tactics of historical oppressors. The release condemned the government's prioritization of state property over human lives and criticized the controlled media for downplaying the severity of the situation.
Our call to action rejects the government's declared day of mourning, instead urging the public to visually signify their solidarity with the movement. This planned online campaign aims to maintain momentum and keep the issue at the forefront of national consciousness.
The Government's Disconnect
The government's approach to the student protests underscores a fundamental disconnect with our demands. Issues that could have been resolved through dialogue were instead pushed onto the streets, resulting in violence and loss of life. This failure to engage with us has not only escalated the crisis but also alienated a significant portion of the population.
Historically, movements led by students and supported by the general populace have driven significant change in Bangladesh. From the Language Movement of 1952 to the Liberation War of 1971, student activism has played a crucial role.
The current administration's failure to recognize and respect this legacy of student activism reveals a troubling lack of understanding of the country's history and values.
The government's strategy of using law enforcement and ruling party affiliates to suppress the protests, rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the students, is reminiscent of past oppressive regimes. This approach risks further eroding the government's legitimacy and driving a deeper wedge between the administration and the people.
The government's failure to understand and address our demands has only intensified the protests. By underestimating our resilience and opting for suppression over dialogue, the administration risks further alienation and unrest. Our unwavering resolve and the growing support from various societal segments highlight the urgent need for the government to engage in meaningful dialogue and implement the necessary reforms.
