The 2024 Student Movement in Bangladesh, also known as the Quota Reform Movement or the July Revolution, was a significant pro-democracy uprising that reshaped the country's political landscape. It began in June 2024, sparked by a High Court ruling on June 5 that declared the 2018 government circular abolishing the quota system for government jobs illegal. This decision reinstated a system reserving 30% of civil service positions for descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, along with 26% for other groups like women, disabled individuals, and ethnic minorities, leaving only a small fraction of jobs open for merit-based competition.
The reinstatement of the quota system reignited long-standing grievances among students, particularly the youth, who faced high unemployment rates and economic challenges. With nearly 800,000 graduates unemployed and only about 3,000 civil service jobs available annually for 400,000 applicants, the quota system was seen as discriminatory and favoring those connected to the ruling Awami League, founded by liberation war veterans. Students, led by the group Students Against Discrimination, demanded reforms to ensure fairer job allocation based on merit.
Escalation of Protests
Initially, the protests were peaceful, with students staging sit-ins and demonstrations at universities, particularly Dhaka University, starting July 2. However, tensions escalated after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's controversial remarks on July 14 during a press conference. She questioned, "If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don’t get quota benefits, should those benefits go to the grandchildren of Razakars?" The term "Razakar," referring to collaborators with Pakistani forces during the 1971 war, is a highly offensive pejorative in Bangladesh, implying treason. This statement infuriated students, who felt insulted and labeled as traitors for demanding fair reforms. In response, they adopted slogans like "Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar!" to mock Hasina’s remarks and assert their rights.
The situation worsened when the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the Awami League, attacked anti-quota protesters on July 15 at Dhaka University and other locations, using rods, sticks, and even firearms. These coordinated attacks, often with police support, marked a turning point, transforming the movement into a broader anti-government uprising. By July 16, police began using tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, leading to violent clashes. A notable incident was the killing of Abu Sayeed, a student at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, whose death by police fire on July 16 became a symbol of state brutality after a video of the incident went viral.
Government Crackdown and the July Massacre
The government’s response was severe. By July 18, a nationwide "complete shutdown" by students led to widespread violence, with 29 deaths reported that day alone. The government imposed a "shoot-on-sight" curfew, deployed the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the army, and shut down the internet and Meta platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to curb the spread of information. Schools and universities were closed indefinitely, and hospitals were barred from sharing casualty data. The violence peaked on July 19, with 75 deaths reported, and continued into early August, with a single day on August 4 seeing 95 deaths. Estimates of the total death toll vary, with the government initially reporting 215 deaths, a UN report citing at least 650, and interim government sources later confirming over 1,000 deaths, including 32 children, with 20,000 injuries and 11,000 arrests. This period, known as the July Massacre, fueled public outrage and transformed the movement into a broader call for justice and democracy.
Non-Cooperation Movement and Hasina’s Resignation
By early August, the protests evolved into a Non-Cooperation Movement, with students and citizens demanding Hasina’s resignation. On August 3, the Students Against Discrimination announced a "Long March to Dhaka" for August 5, defying the curfew. On August 4, thousands gathered at Dhaka’s Shahbag intersection, and violent clashes resulted in 97 deaths. As protesters marched toward Hasina’s residence, Ganabhaban, on August 5, the military, led by General Waker-uz-Zaman, refused to fire on civilians, warning Hasina of an impending civil war. Facing immense pressure, Hasina resigned on August 5 and fled to India via helicopter with her sister, Sheikh Rehana, landing in Delhi after a stop in Agartala. Her departure triggered widespread celebrations but also some looting and violence, including attacks on Awami League offices and the residence of Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Interim Government and Muhammad Yunus
Hasina’s resignation created a constitutional crisis, as Bangladesh’s constitution lacked provisions for an interim government after a prime minister’s resignation and parliament’s dissolution. On August 6, President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament, and after discussions with student leaders, military chiefs, and civil society, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed Chief Adviser of the interim government on August 8. Yunus, known for his microfinance work with Grameen Bank, was sworn in with a 16-member cabinet, including two student leaders, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, marking a historic inclusion of protest organizers in governance. The interim government pledged to restore democracy, investigate protest-related deaths, and hold free and fair elections within months.
The Yunus administration faced immediate challenges, including lawlessness due to police absence, communal tensions, and economic issues like inflation and garment sector wages. It released thousands of detained protesters, freed opposition leader Khaleda Zia, and banned the BCL and other political student wings at Dhaka University. However, concerns arose over decisions like lifting the ban on the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami and releasing an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, raising fears of growing Islamist influence.
Impact and Legacy
The 2024 Student Movement, dubbed Bangladesh’s “Second Independence,” exposed deep flaws in the country’s political system, particularly the Awami League’s 15-year rule, marked by allegations of authoritarianism, corruption, and electoral manipulation. The movement, initially about quota reform, became a broader fight against fascism and for democratic restoration, driven by a youth population frustrated by unemployment, inflation, and lack of political agency—many had never voted in a fair election. The uprising’s success in ousting Hasina demonstrated the power of student-led mobilization but left Bangladesh with significant challenges, including rebuilding institutions, ensuring justice for victims, and navigating geopolitical tensions, particularly with India, where Hasina sought refuge.
The interim government, under Yunus, aims to reform the judiciary, election commission, and security forces while preparing for elections. However, public expectations are high, and issues like the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2024, criticized for replicating repressive laws, highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring human rights and democratic governance. The movement remains a powerful symbol of youth activism and a call for systemic change in Bangladesh.
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