Student–People's uprising

"July Revolution (Bangladesh)" redirects here. For other uses, see July Revolution (disambiguation).

Student–People's uprising
Part of Bangladesh protests (2022–2024)
After the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina victory procession in Shahbagh, Dhaka
Date	6 June – 5 August 2024 (1 month and 30 days) Quota reform movement: 6 June – 3 August 2024 Non-cooperation movement: 4–5 August 2024
Location	Bangladesh and abroad
Caused by	Authoritarianism Bangladesh Supreme Court reinstated Quota System July massacre
Goals	Initially focused on quota reform but then resignation of Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet
Resulted in	Successful Sheikh Hasina resigned and went on self-imposed exile
Parties
Protesters Anti-discrimination Students Movement Students from various universities, colleges, schools and madrasas University teachers Revolutionary Student-Youth Movement (Maoist) Anti-fascism Left Front Media persons, singers, writers, poets, artistes, social media influencers Some lawyers and members of bar council Bangladesh diaspora Supported by: Bangladesh Nationalist Party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Workers Party of Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh Proletarian Party of East Bengal Ganosamhati Andolan Left Democratic Alliance Communist Party of Bangladesh Bangladesh Jatiya Party Islami Andolan Bangladesh Bangladesh Islami Front Islamic Front Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh Bangladesh Congress Nationalist Democratic Movement Gono Odhikar Parishad Government of Bangladesh Bangladesh Police Rapid Action Battalion Detective Branch Armed Police Battalion Special Security Force Bangladesh Army President Guard Regiment Border Guard Bangladesh Bangladesh Ansar Awami League Chhatra League Jubo League Swechasebak League Supported by: Grand Alliance Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Workers Party of Bangladesh Bangladesh Tarikat Federation
Lead figures
Collective leadership Nahid Islam Asif Mahmud Sarjis Alam Hasnat Abdullah Others... Sheikh Hasina  Asaduzzaman Khan  Obaidul Quader  and Cabinet members
Casualties and losses
Deaths: 875+ Injuries: 18,000+

Student–People's uprising (Bengali: ছাত্র–জনতার অভ্যুত্থান, romanized: Chātrô–Jônôtār Ôbhyutthān), also known as July Revolution (Bengali: জুলাই বিপ্লব, romanized: Julāi Biplôb), was a pro-democratic mass uprising in Bangladesh. It began as a quota reform movement in early June 2024, led by university students, after the Bangladesh Supreme Court 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 killings of protesters, known as July massacre, by the late of July. By early August, the movement evolved into a non-cooperation movement, ultimately leading to the ouster of the then-Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh to India. Hasina's ouster triggered a constitutional crisis, leading to the formation of a semi-revolutionary government led by the country's only Nobel laureate, Muhammad Yunus , as the chief adviser.

Naming

On August 3, 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".

In his address to the nation on September 11, 2024, the chief adviser Dr. Yunus called the "July Revolution" and the "Student-Worker-Mass Uprising" against fascism.

Background

After the Awami League was elected in the 2008 elections, they abolished the caretaker government system. After that, Awami League won three more consecutive national elections while the political government was in power. There have been allegations of massive rigging in the national elections held in 2014, 2018 and 2024. Meanwhile, except for the 2018 election, the remaining two elections were boycotted by most of the political parties in Bangladesh. During this time, the government carried out massive torture and arrests on their opponents, the top leaders of the opposition parties were made leaderless 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 is strictly regulated through laws such as the Digital Security Act, 2018.

During this period, the government used police forces as well as Awami League affiliates, especially the Chhatra League to control most of the movements, including non-political movements. There were allegations of violence and repression in various campuses against Chhatra League. In the last three terms, allegations of corruption and money laundering were raised against most of the leaders and government officials from the small to the center of Awami League. Begumpara has been created with family members of Bangladeshis in Canada with money smuggled from Bangladesh, Inflation in Bangladesh hit record highs for the past two years. In addition, shortage of reserves, wide spread of corruption, large amount of money laundering from the country, irregularities in loans of thousands of crores of rupees increased in the banking sector. Due to this, the cost of living of common people has increased and life became difficult day by day. As a result, they became angry with the government.

History

Main article: Timeline of Student–People's uprising

Quota reform movement

Further information: 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement

In 2018, a mass movement started in Bangladesh demanding quota reform in government jobs, led by the General Students' Rights Protection Council. The main objective of this movement was to reform the ongoing quota system in Class I and II government jobs. Following the continuation of the agitation and pressure from the students, the government announced the abolition of the 46-year-old quota system.

However in 2021, seven children of freedom fighters, including Ahidul Islam, filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging this decision. Finally, on June 5, 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 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.

Judgment of the Appellate Division on the case

Further information: Ohidul Islam and others v. The Government of Bangladesh and others

On July 4, the Appellate Division, on June 9, 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 July 10, 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. August 7 has been fixed for the next hearing.

When the full judgment of the High Court was published on July 14, leave to appeal was filed by the state and two students. Based on the application of Attorney General AM Amin Uddin on July 18, the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Justice M Inayetur Rahim fixed the date of hearing the case on Sunday, July 21.

On July 21, 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

Further information: July 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'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. 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" prompted significant criticism and calls for accountability. The University Teachers Network held a demonstration at the University of Dhaka, 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, Nagorik Alem Somaj organized a protest criticizing the killings.

Sheikh Hasina, in her first public statement published through his son Sajeeb Wazed, since being ousted from power, called for an investigation into the deaths during the protests, while also asserting that the police and the Awami League were victims of "terrorist aggression."

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 Chhatra Dal in Chattogram demanded prosecution against Sheikh Hasina for the massacre.

The Left Democratic Alliance, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and the Anti-Fascist Left Front criticized the Awami League government rule, urging financial compensation for the families of those killed in the protests and free medical care for the injured. Similarly, the National Democratic Party demanded ৳10 million in compensation for the families of those who died during the massacre, along with a government job for at least one member of each affected family.

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

Main article: Non-cooperation movement (2024)

Aftermath

Fall of government

Main article: Resignation of Sheikh Hasina

On 4 August, thousands of protesters convened at Dhaka's Shahbag intersection in the morning, obstructing it as a form of civil disobedience to demand the resignation of the government. 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 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.

Violence

Further information: 2024 Bangladesh post-resignation violence and 2024 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence

Formation of Interim Government

Main article: 2024 Bangladesh interim government

Bangladesh's army chief Waker-uz-Zaman, announced on 5 August 2024, that an interim government will be formed in the country after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India.

On 8 August 2024, Muhammad Yunus took oath as the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh in Bangabhaban, Dhaka in the presence of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Constitutional crisis

Further information: 2024 Bangladesh constitutional crisis

Alleged judicial coup attempt

Main article: 2024 Bangladesh alleged judicial coup attempt

On August 10, 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 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.

Investigation and trial

On 13 August, a murder complaint was filed at a court in Dhaka against Sheikh Hasina and six other government officials, including former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Transport and Bridges Minister and concurrent Awami League secretary-general Obaidul Quader, regarding the killing of a grocer during the protests on 19 July. That same day, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party also submitted a formal request to the United Nations requesting for it to conduct an international investigation into the killings during the protests. In a phone call with chief adviser Muhammad Yunus on 14 August, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said that such an investigation would come "very soon".

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.

Controversies

Razakar slogans

Students of the University of Rajshahi using the Razakar slogans on 14 July 2024 at 11:30 p.m. (BST)

On 14 July, during a press conference, Sheikh Hasina responded to a question about the protests stating,

"If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't get quota benefits, will those then go to the grandchildren of the Razakars? That's my question to the countrymen."

In response to Sheikh Hasina's comment, in the early hours of 15 July, students began using slogans such as,

তুমি কে? আমি কে?
রাজাকার, রাজাকার।
কে বলেছে? কে বলেছে?
স্বৈরাচার, স্বৈরাচার!

lit. 'Who are you? Who am I?
Razakar, Razakar.
Who said it? Who said it?
Autocrat, Autocrat!'.

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.

Cloudflare Radar @CloudflareRadar

English: Bangladesh is experiencing a near complete #Internet outage after a government-ordered shutdown of mobile networks. Traffic and announced address space dropped to near-zero around 15:00 UTC (21:00 local).

19 July 2024

Role of women

A group of women protesting at Shahbagh

A group of female protesters, with one protester carrying a sign চেয়েছিলাম অধিকার, হয়ে গেলাম রাজাকার ("Sought for rights, got into a Razakar")

The movement witnessed an unusual number of women participating, which is rare in the history of Bangladesh. Usually, women in Bangladesh have not been much involved in political demonstrations. Experts think that the involvement of women in this movement was accelerated due to the mass participation of young female students from universities. One of the key coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, Nusrat Tabassum, was also a woman.

Legacy

A rickshaw puller in Dhaka's Uttara sings a song he wrote about the student uprising.

36 July

See also: July 36

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 and murals made by the students around the country.

Reception

A graffiti of Gen Z drawn by the students, showing various media which played a key role organising the movement, including Jamuna TV

The movement has been dubbed the world's first successful "Gen Z revolution" by several international media, as it was organized and led by Generation Z leaders. John Reed of the Financial Times 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

A painting of a student shot in an armored vehicle during the agitation

The quota reform movement and its sequel the non-cooperation movement was a spontaneous movement in the history of Bangladesh. All parties, religions, castes, castes, men and women took the movement to a new level. In this movement, many painters from the country and abroad gave courage to the agitators by painting various paintings.

Hundreds of satirical, satirical and satirical cartoons and paintings were produced in just three weeks of the movement in July–August. Political cartoons like slogans encouraged this movement. Ahsan Habib, the legendary cartoonist of Bangladesh published a cartoon on 3 August 2024. It can be seen that an hourglass has been painted on red. Above the clock and then there is nominal sand to go down, it says 'count down'..In addition, in this movement, Nazmus Sadat's cartoons of the hand pulling the barrel of the gun towards him, Asif Mahbub's drawing of the bloody phone, Risham Shahab Tirtha's drawing of the democracy by the security forces and the Chhatra League's brutal forces or the student group's cartoons holding the soles of the police boots have clarified the situation with the message of the incident during the movement.

July Memorial Foundation

On 20 August, the interim government announced the establishment of a foundation to be headed by Chief Advisor. Muhammad Yunus dedicated to the welfare of participants of the quota reform and non-cooperation movement who were killed and injured during the protests as well as that of their families.

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 Anti-discrimination Students Movement organized a procession called the "Shahidi March" to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the movement.

See also

• Timeline of Student–People's uprising
• 1990 Mass Uprising in Bangladesh
• 1969 East Pakistan mass uprising
• Bengali language movement
• 2018 Bangladesh road-safety protests
• 2018 Bangladesh quota reform movement
• 2013 Bangladesh quota reform movement

External links

• Macdonald, Geoffrey (6 August 2024). "Bangladesh's Accidental Revolutionaries Topple Sheikh Hasina — What's Next?". United States Institute of Peace.
• Amos, Lauren Dagan (22 September 2024). "The Uprisings in Bangladesh Are a Test for India". Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies.
• Huda, Kazi A S M Nurul (2 October 2024). "The Next Challenge for Bangladesh's 2024 Uprising". E-International Relations.