Student–People's Uprising
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The July Revolution, also known as the Student–People's uprising, was a
pro-democracy Democratization, or democratisation, is the structural government transition from an authoritarian government to a more democratic political regime, including substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction. Whether and to what ...
mass uprising in
Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
in 2024. It began as a quota reform movement in early June 2024, led by the
Students Against Discrimination Students Against Discrimination () is a platform of Student activism, student activists in Bangladesh formed in 2024 during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, nationwide student-led quota reform movement. The group was involved in the R ...
, after the
Bangladesh Supreme Court Supreme Court of Bangladesh () is the highest court of law in the country. It is composed of the High Court Division and the Appellate Division, and was established by Part VI, Chapter I (Article 94) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, adopte ...
invalidated the government's 2018 circular regarding job quotas in the public sector. The movement escalated into a full-fledged mass uprising after the government carried out
mass killing Mass killing is a concept which has been proposed by genocide scholars who wish to define incidents of non-combat killing which are perpetrated by a government or a state. A mass killing is commonly defined as the killing of group members without ...
s of protesters, known as the
July massacre The July massacre () was the violent suppression and mass killings in Bangladesh during the July Revolution (Bangladesh), July Revolution from July 16 to August 5, 2024. Triggered by the reinstatement of a controversial Quota system of Banglades ...
, by late July. By early August, the movement evolved into a
non-cooperation movement Non-cooperation movement may refer to: * Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922), during the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule * Non-cooperation movement (1971), a movement in East Pakistan * Non-cooperatio ...
, ultimately leading to the ouster of the then-prime minister,
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
, who fled to India. Hasina's ouster triggered a
constitutional crisis In political science, a constitutional crisis is a problem or conflict in the function of a government that the constitution, political constitution or other fundamental governing law is perceived to be unable to resolve. There are several variat ...
, leading to the formation of an
interim government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
led by the country's only Nobel laureate,
Muhammad Yunus Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, and civil society leader who has been serving as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser of the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus, interim Yunus ministry, g ...
, as the chief adviser.


Names

''July Revolution'' and ''Student–People's uprising'' are the two most widely used names of the movement. 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." As a result, the movement is known as the ''"July Revolution"''. On the other hand, on 11 September, in an address to the nation, the chief adviser
Muhammad Yunus Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, and civil society leader who has been serving as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser of the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus, interim Yunus ministry, g ...
referred to the events as the ''"July Revolution"'' and the ''"Student–Worker–People's uprising"'' against
fascism Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hie ...
. Other names of the protests include July Uprising, Monsoon Revolution, 2024 Bangladesh Revolution, and Gen Z Revolution.


Background

After the
Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
was elected in the 2008 elections, they abolished the caretaker government system. After that, it won three more consecutive national elections. There were allegations of massive
rigging Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support and control a sailing ship or sail boat's masts and sails. ''Standing rigging'' is the fixed rigging that supports masts including shrouds and stays. ''Running rigg ...
in the national elections held in
2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
,
2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
and
2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
. Meanwhile, except for the 2018 election, the remaining two elections were boycotted by most political parties in
Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
. 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. At this time, dissemination of information in all media in Bangladesh was strictly regulated and freedom of public expression was strictly regulated through laws such as the Digital Security Act, 2018. Since taking office in 2009, Sheikh Hasina's Awami League has largely failed to fulfill job creation promises. While the public sector has expanded with better pay and benefits, political influence determined access to these jobs. During this period, the government was reported to have used law enforcement forces and Awami League affiliates, particularly the
Chhatra League Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
, to manage and suppress various movements, including non-political ones. Allegations of violence and repression involving the Chhatra League were reported on multiple institutions and university campuses. Over the last three terms, allegations of corruption,
money laundering Money laundering is the process of illegally concealing the origin of money obtained from illicit activities (often known as dirty money) such as drug trafficking, sex work, terrorism, corruption, and embezzlement, and converting the funds i ...
, declining reserves, and irregularities in the banking sector were raised against Awami League leaders at various levels of government. These issues were associated with rising living costs and growing public dissatisfaction.


History


Quota reform movement

In 2018, a mass movement was held 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. 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 Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
and Jubo League in various places. 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. The anti-discrimination student movement gained momentum when private university students joined on 16 July. In response to the escalating quota reform movement, the government mandated the closure of all educational institutions on 16 July 2024. Subsequently, on 17 July, students residing in dormitories at public universities across the nation, including Dhaka University, were compelled to vacate their accommodations. However, due to the permanent residency of a significant portion of private university students in Dhaka, their presence within the city noticeably increased on 18 July. On this date, a substantial confrontation occurred between law enforcement and students affiliated with Primeasia University
Brac University BRAC University (, also known as BRACU) is a private research university located in Merul Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 2001 as a branch of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's BRAC under the Private University Act 1992. History Sir ...
and
East West University East West University (, also known as EWU), is a private university located in Aftab Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 1996 under the Private University Act of 1992. History The East West University was established in 1996 as a ...
in the Rampura area. Simultaneously, students from AIUB,
North South University North South University (, also known as NSU) is a Private university, private research university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 1992 under the Private University Act, 1992 by the then Foundation for Promotion of Education and Resea ...
, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka International University and UIU staged demonstrations along Kuril Bishwa Road and Pragati Sarani. Concurrently, protests were initiated by students from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh University of Textiles,
Southeast University Southeast University (SEU) is a public university in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction. Its precursor, ...
in Mohakhali area and Northern University in the Uttara region.


Razakar slogans

On 14 July, during a press conference,
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
responded to a question about the protests stating, In response to Sheikh Hasina's comment, in the early hours of 15 July, students began using slogans such as, 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.


Internet outage

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.


Judgment of the Appellate Division on the case

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? 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. 7 August had been fixed for the next hearing. When the full judgment of the High Court was published on 14 July, leave to appeal was filed by the state and two students. 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, 21 July. 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.


Massacre

By early August 2024, the unrest resulted in a significant death toll. Initial official reports claimed 215 deaths, but a United Nations investigation later confirmed that at least 650 people were killed. In August, the
Interim Government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
'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 UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
. 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. The massacre, which have been referred to as the
July massacre The July massacre () was the violent suppression and mass killings in Bangladesh during the July Revolution (Bangladesh), July Revolution from July 16 to August 5, 2024. Triggered by the reinstatement of a controversial Quota system of Banglades ...
prompted significant criticism and calls for accountability. The University Teachers Network held a demonstration at the
University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka w ...
, expressing concern over the violence. 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. In
Sylhet Sylhet (; ) is a Metropolis, metropolitan city in the north eastern region of Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative center for both the Sylhet District and the Sylhet Division. The city is situated on the banks of the Surma River and, as o ...
, Nagorik Alem Somaj organized a protest criticizing the killings.
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
, 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." Govinda Pramanik, president of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, alleged that the government had killed over 500 innocent people to maintain power, urging that the events be prosecuted at the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. Several labor unions and organizations also criticized the killings, demanding justice for those who lost their lives during the July massacre. A protest march under the banner of
Chittagong University The University of Chittagong () also known as Chittagong University (CU), is a public research university located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was established on 18 November 1966. It is the fifth oldest university of Bangladesh. Having an area ...
Chhatra Dal in
Chattogram Chittagong ( ), officially Chattogram, (, ) (, or ) is the second-largest city in Bangladesh. Home to the Port of Chittagong, it is the busiest port in Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. The city is also the business capital of Bangladesh. It ...
demanded prosecution against Sheikh Hasina for the massacre. The Left Democratic Alliance,
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal () is a List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The party was founded by Serajul Alam Khan. The party was dominant during the 1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency. The current party presid ...
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. Similarly, the National Democratic Party demanded 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. Islami Andolan Bangladesh called for an independent tribunal to ensure justice for the victims of the massacre. 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.


Non-cooperation movement

On 4 August, thousands of protesters gathered at the
Shahbag Shahbagh (also Shahbaugh or Shahbag, , ) is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or ''thana'' in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is also a major public transport hub. It is a junction between two contrasting section ...
intersection in the morning, obstructing it as a form of
civil disobedience Civil disobedience is the active and professed refusal of a citizenship, citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders, or commands of a government (or any other authority). By some definitions, civil disobedience has to be nonviolent to be cal ...
to demand the government's resignation. Following the start of the Non-cooperation movement, various left-wing organisations in Bangladesh took part in protests. The Proletarian Party of East Bengal for example began a graffiti campaign within the city following the fall of Hasina and the Awami League aimed at criticising the army and calling for an end to military rule. Other far-left student groups also took part in the revolution, such as the Revolutionary Student-Youth Movement, a Marxist–Leninist-Maoist organisation. 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 Sirajganj is a city in north-western Bangladesh on the right bank of the Jamuna River, located in Rajshahi Division. It is the administrative headquarters of Sirajganj District, and with a population of 500000, it is the 14th largest city in Ba ...
. Another officer was killed in Eliotganj,
Comilla Comilla (), officially spelled Cumilla, is a metropolis on the banks of the Gomti River in eastern Bangladesh. Comilla was one of the cities of ancient Bengal. It was once the capital of Tripura kingdom. Comilla Airport is located in the Duli ...
. 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 The Bangladesh Police () is the national law enforcement agency of Bangladesh, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh), Ministry of Home Affairs. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order with ...
. In Dhaka, unidentified individuals set fire to and damaged various vehicles, including cars, ambulances, motorcycles, and buses, at the
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Bangladesh Medical University (BMU; formerly known as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, commonly known as PG Hospital) is a graduate medical university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 1965 as Institute of Postgraduate Medic ...
during the protests. Around 4.30 pm, eleventh-grade student Golam Nafiz was shot by the police in Dhaka
Farmgate Farmgate is an area in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is one of the busiest and most crowded areas of Dhaka city. From the early 1990s, the area has seen a massive construction boom. Consequently, the area has gained commercial importance ...
area, whose photo of being taken to the hospital on rickshaw went viral on internet, creating high outrage by netizens. By 12:00 pm, users across the country reported internet inaccessibility. The government ordered the closure of Facebook,
Messenger Messenger, Messengers, The Messenger or The Messengers may refer to: People * Courier, a person or company that delivers messages, packages, or mail * Messenger (surname) * Bicycle messenger, a bicyclist who transports packages through cities * M ...
,
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,
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, and all other
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-owned services, directing internet service providers to comply after 1:00 pm. The government declared a three-day general holiday starting from 5 August, during which banks will also remain closed. The Anti-Discrimination Students Movement confirmed their intention to march towards Dhaka on 6 August to demand the Prime Minister's resignation. 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 A democratic transition describes a phase in a country's political system as a result of an ongoing change from an authoritarian regime to a Democracy, democratic one. The process is known as democratisation, political changes moving in a democrat ...
. Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, announced that their
march March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on the 20 or 2 ...
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. Several former
Bangladesh Army The Bangladesh Army () is the land warfare branch, and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to defend the land of Bangladesh from any external attack. Control of personnel and operations is ad ...
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. Retired Brig. Gen.
M. Sakhawat Hossain M Sakhawat Hussain (born 1 February 1948) is a Bangladeshi author, researcher and former one star rank, one star army officer. He was the Election Commissioner of Bangladesh from 2007 to 2012 and retired from the Bangladesh Army as a brigadier ...
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. The Anti-discrimination Students Movement rejected the curfew and encouraged everyone to march towards the Ganabhaban and Prime minister's office. In the morning of 5 August 2024, units of the
Dhaka Metropolitan Police The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (; abbreviated as DMP) is the unit of Bangladesh Police responsible for law enforcement in the metropolis of Dhaka, the national capital and most populous city in Bangladesh. The DMP is the largest police force uni ...
and Armed Police Battalion would be sent to hold the Chankharpul area of Dhaka and disperse the approaching participants of the Long March to Dhaka, at first the police were firing tear gas, sound grenades, and rubber bullets. However, some like Md. Sujon Hossain,
constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. ''Constable'' is commonly the rank of an officer within a police service. Other peo ...
of the Armed Police Battalion, would fire live bullets indiscriminately at the protestors, leading to the deaths of seven people. Reports indicated Sheikh Hasina had been moved to a secure location. On the same day, up to 135 people, including 24 police officers, were killed during protests.


Resignation of Sheikh Hasina

Hasina resigned on 5 August 2024, as large crowds of demonstrators surrounded the prime minister's residence.Mujib Mashal, Shayeza Walid and Saif Hasnat
Bangladesh's Leader Fled Just Ahead of an Angry Crowd, Urged by Family to Go
, ''New York Times'' (6 August 2024).
Her resignation was announced by General Waker-uz-Zaman, the Chief of the Army Staff. Later that day, Hasina fled to India in a chaotic departure, first by car, then by helicopter, and finally by plane. She left with no resignation speech. Hasina reportedly flew in a
Bangladesh Air Force The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) () is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The air force is primarily responsible for air defence of Bangladesh's sovereign territory as well as providing air support to the Bangladesh Army a ...
C-130 The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 w ...
transport Transport (in British English) or transportation (in American English) is the intentional Motion, movement of humans, animals, and cargo, goods from one location to another. Mode of transport, Modes of transport include aviation, air, land tr ...
to Hindon Air Force base in
Ghaziabad Ghaziabad () is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and a part of Delhi NCR. It is the administrative headquarters of Ghaziabad district and is the largest city in Western Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 1,729,000. Ghaziaba ...
, India, where she was received by the Indian national security advisor
Ajit Doval Ajit Kumar Doval, Kirti Chakra, KC (born 20 January 1945) is an Indian bureaucrat and spymaster, who is currently serving as the National Security Advisor of India since 2014. A retired Indian Police Service officer of the Kerala cadre, he had p ...
along with other senior military officials. Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar told the
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
, "At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India." 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 and that she would return to the country once elections were declared. 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. Hasina had hoped to go to London, but the United Kingdom reportedly rebuffed initial overtures seeking
political asylum The right of asylum, sometimes called right of political asylum (''asylum'' ), is a juridical concept, under which people persecuted by their own rulers might be protected by another sovereignty, sovereign authority, such as a second country or ...
. 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. Hasina was living in a secret location in India under tight security as of August 2024. Sajeeb Wazed said that the protests which led to her resignation had support from a foreign intelligence agency, without naming any country. 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 The Jatiya Sangsad (), often simply referred to as Sangsad and also known as is the unicameral Legislature, legislative body of Bangladesh. The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats, including 50 seats reserved exclusively for w ...
. However, Wazed called the statement "false and fabricated" and said Hasina "did not give any statement before or after leaving Dhaka". The
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
also denied allegations of any US involvement. 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".


Outside Bangladesh

In India, the All India Democratic Students Organisation staged a protest in
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
in support of the Bangladeshi students. In
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
, on 20 July, the All Nepal National Free Students Union held a rally in solidarity with the quota reform movement in Bangladesh and to protest the killing of students. The
Bangladeshi diaspora The Bangladeshi diaspora () are people of Bangladeshi birth, descent or origin who live outside of Bangladesh. First-generation migrants may have moved abroad from Bangladesh for various reasons including better living conditions, to escape pove ...
in
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
, France,
Qatar Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Geography of Qatar, Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares Qatar–Saudi Arabia border, its sole land b ...
, the
United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...
, the
Maldives The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, abou ...
, the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and
Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...
protested in solidarity with the protesters in Bangladesh. In the UAE, a demonstration by Bangladeshi labourers also opposed the suppression of protesters, however, several of them were charged with holding protests and violating the UAE's laws against public demonstrations. Following a trial on 21 July, three defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment for "rioting", while 54 others received sentences ranging from 10 to 11 years and were ordered to be deported upon release.
Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Headquartered in New York City, the group investigates and reports on issues including War crime, war crimes, crim ...
condemned their arrest, citing the country's restrictive laws and labour conditions as violations of human rights. A Bangladeshi lawyer, Wolora Afrin Rasna was hired by the country's interim government to secure the release of those imprisoned. Md. Touhid Hossain stated that
Muhammad Yunus Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, and civil society leader who has been serving as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser of the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus, interim Yunus ministry, g ...
vowed that he would personally approach senior Emirati authorities to seek the release of those detained, and would also contact the "concerned government", if necessary. The detainees were later pardoned by UAE president
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (born 11 March 1961), also known as MbZ, is an Emirati royal and politician who is serving as the third and current president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi since 2022. Mohamed completed his e ...
on 3 September. The Ministry's Spokesperson Fathimath Rifath said that expatriate workers in the Maldives are barred from political involvement in such an act, which amounted to a visa violation.


Fall of the government

On 4 August, thousands of protesters convened at Dhaka's
Shahbag Shahbagh (also Shahbaugh or Shahbag, , ) is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or ''thana'' in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is also a major public transport hub. It is a junction between two contrasting section ...
intersection in the morning, obstructing it as a form of civil disobedience to demand the resignation of the government. This was followed by hundreds of casualties. The following day, the protesters called for the Long March to Dhaka in defiance of a nationwide curfew to press
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
to resign. 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. Following the overthrow of the Awami League, the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh organised a student assembly to meet with the interim government and consult on the policies of said government, meeting with parties like the BNP. While the Left Democratic Alliance held a conference on 11 August calling for the reconstitution of the Election Commission to initiate national parliamentary elections. The LDA called for "an immediate overhaul of the electoral system, including the introduction of a “no" vote option, recall of elected representatives failing to meet public expectations, and the adoption of a proportional representation electoral system." In addition, as the interim government was formed in Bangladesh, it sat with various political parties on 5 October meeting with the BNP, Jamaat, Gantantra Mancha, Left Democratic Alliance, Hefazat-e-Islam, and Islami Andolan attending.


Death toll

By early August 2024, the unrest resulted in a significant death toll. Initial official reports claimed 215 deaths, but a United Nations investigation later confirmed that at least 650 people were killed. In August, the
Interim Government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
'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 UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
. In January 2025, the interim government of Bangladesh published a
gazette A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...
containing the initial finalized list of 834 recorded deaths. However, the actual number of casualties may be higher due to restrictions imposed by the previous government, which included barring hospitals from sharing data, confiscating CCTV footage, and burying some victims without proper identification. On 12 February 2025, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published a thorough report on the events that took place from 1 July to 5 August 2024, which suggested a death toll of 1,400.


Selected individual deaths


Abu Sayed

Abu Sayed (; – 16 July 2024) was a
Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
i student
activist Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived common good. Forms of activism range from mandate build ...
and
revolutionary A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates for, a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective to describe something producing a major and sudden impact on society. Definition The term—bot ...
who was shot dead by the
Bangladesh Police The Bangladesh Police () is the national law enforcement agency of Bangladesh, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh), Ministry of Home Affairs. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order with ...
on 16 July 2024, while participating in the
2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement The 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement was a series of anti-government and pro-democracy protests in Bangladesh, spearheaded primarily by Universities in Bangladesh, university students. Initially focused on restructuring Quota system of B ...
. Abu Sayed was a student of Begum Rokeya University and was involved in the protest in front of the university when the police engaged in lathi charges and opened fire on the students.


Mir Mugdho

Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho (; 9 October 1998 – 18 July 2024) was a Bangladeshi student,
freelancer ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...
, and activist in the 2024 quota reform movement, who was shot dead while distributing food, water and
biscuits A biscuit is a Flour, flour-based baked food item. Biscuits are typically hard, flat, and Unleavened bread, unleavened. They are usually sweet and may be made with sugar, chocolate, icing (food), icing, jam, ginger, or cinnamon. They can also ...
during the protest. His death is widely recognised as a pivotal point in the
July Revolution The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after French Revolution, the first of 1789–99. It led to the overthrow of King Cha ...
.


Golam Nafiz

Md. Golam Nafiz (; 22 May 2008 – 4 August 2024), was a Bangladeshi student activist who died in the
non-cooperation movement Non-cooperation movement may refer to: * Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922), during the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule * Non-cooperation movement (1971), a movement in East Pakistan * Non-cooperatio ...
on 4 August 2024. He was photographed on a
rickshaw Rickshaw originally denoted a pulled rickshaw, which is a two- or three-wheeled cart generally pulled by one person carrying one passenger. The first known use of the term was in 1879. Over time, cycle rickshaws (also known as pedicabs or tr ...
on the way to the hospital, the image of which was well-publicized among the many fatalities of the July Revolution.


Aftermath


Violence


Formation of interim government

Bangladesh's army chief Waker-uz-Zaman, announced on 5 August 2024, that an interim government would be formed in the country after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. On 8 August 2024,
Muhammad Yunus Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, and civil society leader who has been serving as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser of the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus, interim Yunus ministry, g ...
took oath as the Chief Advisor of the
Interim Government of Bangladesh An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was formed on 8 August 2024 in Bangladesh, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024 amid nationwide student and public protests against the government. Following the ...
in
Bangabhaban The Bangabhaban () is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Bangladesh, located on Bangabhaban Road, and short road connecting Dilkusha, Dhaka, Dilkusha Avenue, Dhaka. It is surrounded by the Bangabhaban Gardens (fo ...
,
Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...
in the presence of President
Mohammed Shahabuddin Mohammed Shahabuddin (born 10 December 1949) is a Bangladeshi jurist, journalist, civil servant and politician who has served as the 16th and current president of Bangladesh since 2023. He was elected unopposed in the 2023 Bangladeshi president ...
.


Constitutional crisis

A
constitutional crisis In political science, a constitutional crisis is a problem or conflict in the function of a government that the constitution, political constitution or other fundamental governing law is perceived to be unable to resolve. There are several variat ...
emerged on 5 August 2024, following Sheikh Hasina's resignation, because the existing constitution has no provisions for an
interim government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
or any other form of government in the event that the prime minister resigns and the parliament is dissolved. Although mandates
general elections A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. 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 A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
, 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.


Alleged judicial coup attempt

On 10 August 2024, a plenary meeting of the Appellate Division judges was scheduled, a move considered irregular and unconstitutional by many observers, including LDP Secretary-general Redwan Ahmed. 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. Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, called for protests to be held at the Supreme Court premise. 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. 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 A full court (less formally, full bench) is a court of law sitting with a greater than normal number of judges. For a court which is usually presided over by one judge, a full court has three or more judges; for a court which, like many appella ...
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.


Formation of a political party by activists


Subsequent protests


Police strike

On 6 August, the Bangladesh Police Service Association initiated a strike, demanding 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." Students and several paramilitary personnel were subsequently seen directing traffic and maintaining law and order functions in Dhaka, while
Bangladesh Air Force The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) () is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The air force is primarily responsible for air defence of Bangladesh's sovereign territory as well as providing air support to the Bangladesh Army a ...
personnel were deployed to secure Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The newly appointed
Inspector-General of Police An inspector-general of police is a senior police officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most ...
, Md. Moinul Islam, issued an order for all officers to report for duty by the evening of 8 August. 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. The strike ended on 11 August following a meeting between the association and the interim government. By 15 August, regular operations at all 639 police stations nationwide had resumed.


Bangladesh Bank protest

On 7 August, several officials from the
Bangladesh Bank Bangladesh Bank (BB; ) is the central bank of Bangladesh and is a member of the Asian Clearing Union. It is fully owned by the Bangladesh, Government of Bangladesh. The bank is active in developing green banking. and financial inclusion poli ...
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. 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.


Hindu rights protest

On 9 August, the Bangladesh Hindu Jagran Mancha organized a protest in Dhaka condemning the attacks on Hindus. 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. Protests against anti-Hindu attacks were also held in
Tangail Tangail (, ) is a city of Tangail District in central Bangladesh. A significant city in Bangladesh, Tangail lies on the bank of the Louhajang River, northwest of Dhaka, the nation's capital. Etymology ''Tangail'' originates from the Beng ...
and Khulna.


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. 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.


Resistance Week

On 13 August, the
Students Against Discrimination Students Against Discrimination () is a platform of Student activism, student activists in Bangladesh formed in 2024 during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, nationwide student-led quota reform movement. The group was involved in the R ...
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 ''The Massacre'' is the second studio album by American rapper 50 Cent, released on March 3, 2005, via Interscope Records, Eminem's Shady Records, 50 Cent's G-Unit Records, and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. With production from Dr. Dre, ...
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.


Occupation of Dhanmondi 32

On 15 August, 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 A national day of mourning is a day, or one of several days, marked by mourning and memorial activities observed among the majority of a country's populace. They are designated by the national government. Such days include those marking the deat ...
. 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. Protesters were also accused of harassing journalists filming the event following complaints by correspondents from ''
Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency ...
'', ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
,'' and other media outlets. An Awami League activist was injured in the incident and later succumbed of his injuries on 30 August. The BNP also called for a nationwide
sit-in A sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or economic change. The protestors gather conspicuously in a space or building, refusing to mo ...
on 15 and 16 August, demanding that Sheikh Hasina be put on trial for genocide in connection with the killings of protesters.


Ansar protest

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 The Bangladesh Secretariat () is the administrative headquarters of the Government of Bangladesh, and houses the majority of ministries and government agencies and bodies, located in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. The secretariat can refer to the complex ...
. 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. 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. Despite this, the Ansar members were dissatisfied due to the lack of immediate guarantees regarding job nationalisation. Later that day, a clash between Ansar members and a group of students resulted in 50 injuries. On 26 August 303 Ansar members were arrested for unlawful assembly, and nine Deputy Directors and ten Directors of Ansar were transferred from their posts. The DMP prohibited any rallies, meetings, or demonstrations in the vicinity of the Bangladesh Secretariat and the Chief Adviser's residence. One person later died of injuries they sustained after being caught in the clashes on 4 September.


''Jumma'' protest

On 20 September, a protest march was organized by a '' Jumma'' students' body, starting from the Raju Sculpture and ending at
Shahbag Shahbagh (also Shahbaugh or Shahbag, , ) is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or ''thana'' in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is also a major public transport hub. It is a junction between two contrasting section ...
, to protest against the recent violence targeting ''Jumma''s in Khagrachhari.


Gender-based violence and public backlash

On 24 February 2025, a protest march was organised, starting from the Shahid Minar to the
Secretariat Secretariat may refer to: * Secretariat (administrative office) * Secretariat (horse) Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who was the ninth winn ...
, demanding among many things the resignation of Adviser of Home Affairs, Jahangir Alam Choudhury, for his perceived failure to quell crimes against women in the aftermath of the revolution. Although, the march was stopped by the police before reaching secretariat premise, the agitators issued a 24-hour ultimatum to meet their demands. On 13 March 2025, a torch march was organised at the Raju Sculpture to protest the death of an 8-year-old girl who died from injuries after being brutally gangraped by her 20-year-old brother-in-law and his father, while visiting the house of her elder sister six days prior at Sreepur upazila of
Magura District Magura District () is a district in southwestern Bangladesh, and situated 176 kilometers from Dhaka. It is located in Khulna Division. Administration Magura district has 4 upazilas. They are: # Magura Sadar Upazila # Mohammadpur Upazila # Shalikh ...
. Thus incident spaked widespread public outrage in the country, with the house of the accused being burnt down by an angry mob. Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad general secretary Fahid Ahmed Chaudhury demanded resignation of the Home Advisor for this incident. The BNP has also criticised the inability of the interim government in quelling crimes against women, especially minors, in the country.


Impacts


Geopolitical

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. 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. Post-revolution, Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken steps to improve their bilateral relationship, with the Pakistani Foreign Office releasing a statement of solidarity and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoping to "settle outstanding issues".


Financial

On 6 August, the
Dhaka Stock Exchange The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ( ''Dhaka stôk ekschenj''), located in Nikunja, Dhaka, is one of the two stock exchanges of Bangladesh, the other being the Chittagong Stock Exchange. In January 2023, DSE and Nasdaq announced their partnership ...
(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.


Prosecutions

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 Obaidul Quader (born 1 February 1952) is a Bangladeshi politician. He has served as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League since October 2016. Quader was previously the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges from 2011–2024 and ...
, regarding the killing of a grocer during the protests on 19 July. That same day, the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (), popularly abbreviated as BNP (), is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. It was founded on 1 September 1978 by President of Bangladesh, President Ziaur Rahman, wit ...
also submitted a formal request to the United Nations requesting for it to conduct an international investigation into the killings during the protests. In a phone call with chief adviser
Muhammad Yunus Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, and civil society leader who has been serving as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser of the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus, interim Yunus ministry, g ...
on 14 August, UN human rights chief
Volker Türk Volker Türk (born 27 August 1965) is an Austrian lawyer and United Nations official. He has been the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since October 2022. Career Early years In 1991, Türk became a UN Junior Professional Officer and ha ...
said that such an investigation would come "very soon". 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. The court began legal proceedings to have Sheikh Hasina extradited on 8 September. 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. 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. On 17 August, former shipping minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury was charged over an attack on a student protest on 18 July. On 27 August, the interim government dissolved a committee created under Sheikh Hasina's government to investigate the deaths of students during the protests. 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.


Role of women

The movement saw an unprecedented level of participation by women, a rarity in the political
history of Bangladesh The history of Bangladesh dates back over four millennia to the Chalcolithic period. The region's early history was characterized by a succession of Hindus, Hindu and Buddhism, Buddhist kingdoms and empires that fought for control over the Beng ...
. Traditionally, women in the country have been less involved in political demonstrations. Experts attribute this heightened involvement to the significant presence of young female university and high-school students. Notably, two prominent figures in the Students Against Discrimination, Nusrat Tabassum, serving as a coordinator, and Umama Fatema, acting as the organization's spokesperson were also women. Despite their substantial contributions, many female activists reported facing marginalization in the post-uprising political landscape. Interviews revealed that women encountered challenges such as lack of recognition, discriminatory attitudes, limited space in organizations, and patriarchal practices, which hindered their continued participation in the rebuilding process.


Legacy


36 July

On 3 August, Nahid Islam said, "We haven't gone to August yet. We will go to August only after this July killings are judged.". So Young protesters used the non-standard date July 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 Graffiti (singular ''graffiti'', or ''graffito'' only in graffiti archeology) is writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from simple written "monikers" to elabor ...
and murals made by the students around the country.
Al Jazeera Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN; , ) is a private-media conglomerate headquartered in Wadi Al Sail, Doha, funded in part by the government of Qatar. The network's flagship channels include Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English, which pro ...
also called 4 August as "35 July".


Reception

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 Generation Z (often shortened to Gen Z), also known as zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2 ...
leaders. John Reed of the ''
Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...
'' called it the "Monsoon Revolution". Bangladeshi political analyst Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah called it "Bangla Spring" saying people refer the movement by it.


Paintings and graffiti

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 cartoons and paintings were produced in just three weeks of the movement in July–August. Political cartoons and slogans encouraged the 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, 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.


Music

The song " Awaaz Utha" released during the quota reform movement in Bangladesh. The song's composer, Hannan, was arrested by the
police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
on 25 July from
Narayanganj Narayanganj () is a city in central Bangladesh in the Greater Dhaka area. It is in the Narayanganj District, about southeast of the capital city of Dhaka. With a population of almost 1 million, it is the 6th largest city in Bangladesh. It is als ...
, a week after the release of the song. New York City-based non-profit organisation Artist at Risk Connection (ARC) condemned the arrest. The song became very popular with the audience around the quota reform movement. 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.


Media coverage


July Shaheed Smrity Foundation

On 20 August, the
interim government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
announced the establishment of a foundation to be headed by Chief Advisor.
Muhammad Yunus Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, and civil society leader who has been serving as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser of the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus, interim Yunus ministry, g ...
dedicated to the welfare of participants of the quota reform and
non-cooperation movement Non-cooperation movement may refer to: * Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922), during the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule * Non-cooperation movement (1971), a movement in East Pakistan * Non-cooperatio ...
who were killed and injured during the protests as well as that of their families.


July Revolution Memorial 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. On the same day, the
Students Against Discrimination Students Against Discrimination () is a platform of Student activism, student activists in Bangladesh formed in 2024 during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, nationwide student-led quota reform movement. The group was involved in the R ...
organized a procession called the "Shahidi March ()" to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the movement.


Disinformation in India

Sensationalist Indian media outlets, especially those closely associated with the ruling party in India, the
Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; , ) is a political party in India and one of the two major List of political parties in India, Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. BJP emerged out from Syama Prasad Mukherjee's ...
, portrayed the mass uprising as an Islamist-backed military takeover of the country purportedly orchestrated by India's rivals,
Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
(through its
intelligence agency An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, Intelligence analysis, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, public safety, and foreign policy obj ...
) and China. Following Hasina's resignation, Indian media outlets discredited the student protestors by overemphasising on a solitary incident of one of the many protestors who vandalised the Ganabhaban flashing Hasina's underwear in public.


See also

Revolutions in Bangladesh *
Bengali language movement The Bengali language movement was a political movement in East Bengal (modern-day Bangladesh) in 1952, advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as a co-lingua franca of the then-Dominion of Pakistan to allow its use in government ...
* 1969 East Pakistan mass uprising * 1990 Bangladesh mass uprising Revolutions outside Bangladesh *
People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
*
1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre The Tiananmen Square protests, known within China as the June Fourth Incident, were student-led demonstrations held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, lasting from 15 April to 4 June 1989. After weeks of unsuccessful attempts between t ...
*
Romanian revolution The Romanian revolution () was a period of violent Civil disorder, civil unrest in Socialist Republic of Romania, Romania during December 1989 as a part of the revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several countries around the world, primarily ...
*
Syrian revolution The Syrian revolution, also known as the Syrian Revolution of Dignity, was a series of mass protests and civilian uprisings throughout Syria – with a subsequent violent reaction by the Ba'athist regime – lasting from 15 March 2011 to 8 De ...
*
2011 Egyptian Revolution The 2011 Egyptian revolution, also known as the 25 January Revolution (;), began on 25 January 2011 and spread across Egypt. The date was set by various youth groups to coincide with the annual Egyptian "Police holiday" as a statement against ...
*
2022 Sri Lankan protests The 2022 Sri Lankan protests, commonly known as Aragalaya (), were a series of mass protests that began in March 2022 against the government of Sri Lanka. The government was heavily criticized for mismanaging the Economy of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan ...


References


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External links


Madrasa Shohid In 2024 Revolution
CSS Foundation * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:July Revolution Political history of Bangladesh History of the Awami League Premiership of Sheikh Hasina 2024 in Bangladesh Rebellions in Asia Bangladeshi nationalism Fall of regimes Generation Z Anti-fascism in Bangladesh