The Prelude to Uprising

24th July, 2024

From 24 July, all offices and businesses were instructed to resume their operations from 11 AM-3 PM while curfew was restricted from 10 AM-5 PM for commute of the everyday offices. After the weekend, the offices resumed at 9 AM and 4 PM. Law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on students. Media reports show that the agencies are checking phones on the streets and taking anyone with protest-related content into custody, a 17-year-old student was ordered to be taken into police interrogation, then later put in a juvenile detention center because of mass public scrutiny. The murder of Abu Sayeed in Rangpur has been written off as a murder by the protesters, even though there is footage of him being shot by the police. The student mess areas around Dhaka are facing police raids every night. There have been over 6000 people arrested related to the movement, and hundreds of cases filed by the police and ruling party members across the country accusing over 60,000 anonymous miscreants.

25th July, 2024

The security forces of Bangladesh have been in hot water for a long time over allegations of human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearance of dissenting voices. The US Treasury Department has even sanctioned the Bangladeshi elite paramilitary force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). However, in attempting to bring back order, the security forces of Bangladesh have openly engaged in acts that violate the human rights of the citizens of Bangladesh. Such acts have continued even after the protests have simmered, as security forces have begun going door to door and illegally detaining all students. There are numerous reports and video evidence of law enforcement officers seizing student’s mobile phones by force and going through them to find incrementing material, which is a clear breach of privacy and an act that goes against the constitution of Bangladesh.

26th July, 2024

Three coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, including Nahid Islam were taken into custody in the name of personal safety from the Gonoshastho Nagar Hospital while being treated the very same day when the premier reassured them that the injured would be treated accordingly. Nahid Islam’s father, Badrul Alam, and several witnesses told The Daily Dhaka Tribune that some plainclothes individuals from law enforcement agencies picked up Nahid and Asif from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital around 4 pm on Friday while being treated. The AL regime created a puppet media community like the nexus with the businessmen in the past 15 years. Where the media should be free from politicization and fighting for the truth, the journalist community showed their support to the prime minister. The death toll rose to 209 on that day. The block raid continued in different areas of the capital to crack down on the protestors along with the arrests of BNP leaders and activists.

27th July, 2024

To simmer down the protestors, The DB police took the other 3 coordinators of the movement into custody on the 27th of July. The DB claimed that the coordinators had talks with leaders arrested on charges of sabotage. The government increased the flexible hours for curfew from 28th July and the capital got back to some state of normalcy. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, “The law and order situation is gradually improving. That’s why we want to relax the curfew a little more. Very soon we will try to relax the curfew further.” However, people kept defying curfew rules and spotted in the street during curfew hours. The premier commented that the opposition and their allies are purposefully creating a hostile environment to damage the economy. Upon the events of oppression on the masses, BNP called for national unity with their ally to combat the oppressive regime and free the people from Sheikh Hasina’s autocracy.

28th July, 2024

After denying the urgency of the situation for 10 days, on 28th July, for the first time, the government reported the death toll. At a press briefing at the Secretariat Asaduzzaman Khan said that 147 people have so far been killed in clashes during the quota reform movement in government jobs. However, according to Prothom alo and New Age, the death toll has risen to 211 people, with more than 2000 injured. The government also launched a 4G or Mobile data network on Sunday. Even after 10 days of restricting broadband internet and relaunching mobile internet the four most used apps including Facebook were being restricted. Six coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, who are in the custody of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said in a video message that all programs would be withdrawn since their initial demands were met. The video message, recorded at the DB office, was sent to the media around 9:00 pm on Sunday. However, some coordinators later disagreed with this decision, raising concerns about the conditions under which the announcement was made.

29th July, 2024

Meanwhile, the government tried to put up a narrative of normalcy, on 29th July Ganatantra Mancha for the first time urged for AL’s resignation. They accused the government of brutally suppressing the student-led quota reform movement and called for its resignation, citing the killings and repression of students and citizens. They demanded an impartial UN-led investigation and announced a demonstration on July 31 in Paltan, urging a political solution to the crisis. Nationwide the students were adamant that the video of 6 coordinators at DB was taken forcefully and declared to continue the protest by selecting new coordinators. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) denounced the illegal detention of quota reform movement coordinators by the DB. A writ was filed on Monday by a group of lawyers, seeking the release of the coordinators and a directive against firing on protesters. Petitioners argued that live ammunition should not be used against students, and questioned the legality of detaining individuals for “safety.” The state’s lawyers countered, justifying law enforcement actions. The High Court criticized the handling of the situation, stating, “Don’t make a mockery of the nation,” and questioned why such actions were taken. The court scheduled further hearings for Tuesday.

30th July, 2024

The desperation to take a grip on the situation the government issued a gazette notification banning Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatrashibir, by executive order. Law Minister Anisul Huq confirmed the decision, citing the parties’ alleged involvement in recent violence and historical crimes during the 1971 Liberation War. The move followed a high-level meeting and the Awami League-led 14-party alliance’s agreement. Jamaat’s registration had been canceled in 2013, and the government planned to amend the International Crimes Tribunal Act to prosecute Jamaat as a party for war crimes. In remembrance of those who died during the quota reform movement, people added red frames to their Facebook profiles. Teachers and students across different educational institutions held processions in support of justice. Protests took place at North South University, Jahangirnagar University, and Rajshahi University, although police interference occurred at one of these sites. Abdul Quader, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, announced a new program in his group on the online messaging app Telegram. The ‘March for Justice’ was held at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The program was announced to be observed in all courts, campuses, and streets of the country to protest the genocide, mass arrests, attacks, cases, disappearances, and murders of students and people across the country.