By Mohiuddin Muzahid Mahi

DHAKA, Dec 30, 2024 (BSS) - The Students-People's uprising, also known as the July Revolution, was a pro-democratic mass uprising in Bangladesh which spanned from June 5 to August 5, 2024, bringing an end to 16 years of dictatorship rule with the sacrifice of countless lives.

The victory of the historic revolution -- that started over a controversial job quota system and later escalated due to the government's harsh response -- came on August 5, 2024, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned after dictating the country for over fifteen years and fled to India, following murders of around 1500 people.

On that day, at a national address Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced an interim government and promised to investigate the deaths, urging everyone to remain calm.

After three days of Hasina's resignation, an interim government was formed with the 84-year-old country's only Nobel laureate and pioneer of microcredit Prof Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser.

Here is a timeline of events leading up to the end of fifteen years of fascism -

June 5
The High Court Division of the Supreme Court declared the circular issued by the government in 2018, amid countrywide protests demanding a reform to quota system in the government job recruitment system, invalid. Soon after the announcement, students came to streets and brought out protest marches at different universities across the country demanding the cancellation of a quota system, which reserves 56% of jobs for people from various categories.
While the government appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, students refused to wait for the outcome and demanded a new executive order canceling the quotas.

June 6
Students of six universities including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Jagannath University and Chittagong University staged peaceful protests against the quota system. However, the protests calmed down because of the Eid-ul Adha celebrations, but it soon resumed after the break.

July 1
After a break of 24 days, students brought out demonstrations at Dhaka University campus and some other universities demanding a new executive order scarping the quotas. Then the protesters set July 4 as a deadline to meet the demand.

July 2
Students staged demonstrations blocking the Shahbagh intersection for one-hour while Jahangirnagar University students brought out a protest procession and blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway for at least 20-minutes in front of Jahangirnagar University campus.

July 3
Students brought out a procession from Dhaka University's central library premises and staged a demonstration at Shahbagh, blocking the city's one of the busiest intersections for one and a half hour; while students continued regular demonstrations at some other universities.

July 4
The Appellate Division did not stay the High Court verdict that invalidated the 2018 circular on cancellation of quota and thus, students intensified their protests across the country

July 5
To intensify the campaign from different universities across the country, students under the banner 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' staged sit-ins, protests, rallies, and road blockade programmes and ended the day calling for a class exam boycott effective from July 7 (Sunday) as well as announcing protest programmes for July 6 (Saturday).

On the day, students from Chittagong University, Khulna University, Haji Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj, and Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University in Tangail staged sit-ins, protests, rallies, and road blockades.

July 6
On the first day of "Bangla Blockade" programme, student protesters blocked several key locations in the capital including Shahbagh, Nilkhet, Hare Road, Minto Road, Science Lab, Banglamotor intersections and major highways including Dhaka-Aricha and Dhaka-Chattogram highway across the country for several hours.

Dhaka University students staged a blockade at Shahbagh intersection while Dhaka College students at Science Lab intersection, Eden College students at Nilkhet intersection, Jahangirnagar University at Dhaka-Aricha highway and Cumilla University students at Dhaka-Chattagram highway.

At the end of the day's programme, the agitating students announced that they would continue the blockade with a "one-point" demand which is the abolition of illogical quotas in all grades of government jobs through enacting a law in parliament.

July 7
Bangla Blockade takes Dhaka to a standstill for hours as students observe blockade programmes in the capital. In line with the central programme, students announced to boycott classes and examinations at colleges and universities across the country.

July 8
Students staged blockade programmes at 11 spots in Dhaka, hold demonstrations at nine universities, blocked railway at three spots along with six highways on the day.

July 9
The Anti-discrimination Student Movement announced a dawn-to-dusk blockade at key points of the country's roads and railways. Two students joined the appeal against the High Court's verdict through a lawyer.

July 10
On the day, the Appellate Division imposed a status quo on quota for four weeks. The students placed a demand to reform the quota system for government recruitments under all grades.

July 11
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said the quota protesters are flexing their muscles against the highest court of the country, which is unwarranted and illegal while the home minister said the protesters are 'crossing their limits'.

However, students stage sit-in demonstrations at various key intersections in the capital and highways outside the city, disrupting traffic on roads, highways and railways despite police's obstruction.

July 12
At 05:00 PM, students gathered at Shahbagh and staged a blockade in the area. Meanwhile, a group of Chhatra League members launched an attack on the protesters as students were protesting at Comilla Victoria College. At that time, a student who was recording a video was taken to a hall and beaten by the Chhatra League members.

July 13
Students organised demonstrations in different universities and colleges of the country, although it was a weekly holiday. The students blocked Shahbagh intersection after a rally on Dhaka University campus. Rajshahi University students staged protest blocking a railway line in the city.
Later, students held a press conference in the evening in Dhaka, where they complained that attempts were being made to block the students' movement with lawsuits and announced to place a memorandum to the president to reform quotas in all grades of government jobs in the next day.

July 14
Students brought out a march in the capital along with sit-in protest and blockade and later submitted a memorandum to President Mohammed Sahabuddin placing their demand. In the evening, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press briefing at Ganabhaban made the controversial remarks referring to the protesting students as the children of Razakars which triggered the movement further.
In response to Sheikh Hasina's remarks, students organized a midnight demonstration on the Dhaka University campus area. Female students from all female halls of Dhaka University joined the protest by breaking the lock put up by the authorities at the dorm gate.

The government instructed operators to shut down the 4G network in the Dhaka University area. Meanwhile, at around 11:30 PM, leaders and members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League attacked protesters at the University of Chittagong leaving 13 protesters injured. Students also held demonstrations at Jahangirnagar University and Jagannath University.

July 15 
Awami League (AL) general Secretary Obaidul Quader at a press briefing at the AL president's political office told media that the party's student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) will give a "fitting reply" to students. Following Obaidul Quader's order, BCL leaders and activists carried out attacks on protesting students at Dhaka University campus and beat them up indiscriminately leaving at least 300 demonstrators injured.

BCL leaders and activists wearing helmets forcibly entered Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) around 7:30 PM with rods and Chinese axes in their hands and then initiated an attack on wounded demonstrators both inside and outside the DMCH as well as vandalized several ambulances parked inside the hospital.

After hours of clashes, protesting students took control of Dhaka university's three dormitories- Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall and Amar Ekushey Hall.

Meanwhile, in the evening, an attack carried out by BCL Rajshahi unit on Rajshahi University campus left six students injured while at Comilla University, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement was assaulted and beaten up by BCL men after they called him to check his phone.
The protesters called for nation-wide demonstrations and rallies in all educational institutions of the country at 03:00 pm on July 16.

July 16
Students brought out massive protests across the country. BCL, Jubo League and other ruling party men attacked the protesters. At least six people were killed in fierce clashes between protesting students and law enforcers joined by ruling party activists in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rangpur.

As footage and pictures of Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, being killed went viral on the day, in the night, general students fought back and drove the BCL group out of Dhaka and Rajshahi University. They also ransacked their leaders' rooms in university campuses as well as took control of most of DU and RU halls.

In response, Hasina's government closed schools and universities nationwide. However, students announced new programmes of Gayebana janaza and coffin procession for the next day.

July 17
By morning, protesters drove out Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists from different campuses including Dhaka University and declared the campuses 'free from politics'.

Students tried to hold "absentee funerals" for those who were killed, but police attacked their gatherings at three universities. The university authorities' closed the campuses and ordered students to vacate their dormitories.

In the evening around 7:30pm, Hasina addressed the nation and announced that she will set up a judicial inquiry to hold perpetrators to book. On the matter of quotas, she urged students to wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court, saying the decision will not disappoint them.

Students respond by calling for a "complete shutdown" of transportation across the country for the next day.

July 18
The "complete shutdown" program sees massive violence in Dhaka and in 47 other districts as thousands of students were joined by various other groups of people to enforce the shutdown of transportation. At least 29 people are confirmed dead as police and unidentified people open fire on them with live bullets, shotgun pellets and rubber bullets. Police and BCL men also attacked students at Brac University and other institutions.

The agitators vandalized and torched BTV Bhaban, Setu Bhaban and other government establishments. Internet service remained blocked across the country and Metro rail operations were suspended for an indefinite period.

Other than Dhaka, 47 districts of the country saw protests, clashes, police firing and attacks. At least 1500 were injured in these incidents. The protesters clashed with law enforcers in some places and with ruling party men in some others.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) men were deployed across the country.

July 19
On this day, the Sheikh Hasina government imposed a nationwide curfew at midnight and deployed the Army after daylong violence killed at least 66 people. More government establishments, including Narsingdi jail, metro rail stations and BRTA offices were vandalized and torched.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police, in an attempt to hinder the students' protests, announced indefinite suspension of public gatherings and processions while nationwide shutdown of Internet access, which began on July 18, continued.

However, the capital Dhaka was rocked by unprecedented violence, firing, arson and deaths centering the 'complete shutdown' of the students. The Mirpur 10 and Kazipara metro stations were vandalized. Clashes took place in other districts too.

At least 44 people were killed in the city alone in firing and clashes. A total of 59 were killed outside Dhaka. Several hundred people including students, leaders and activists of political parties, policemen, journalists and pedestrians were injured. Only the students had participated in the movement from the beginning, but locals were also seen joining the movement on Friday.

Throughout the country, calls for quota reform protests largely continued.

Around 10:00 am, teachers of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) wore black face coverings in protest. At approximately 12:45 p.m., after protesters in Kishoreganj District's Bhairab Thana surrounded the police station, police fired into the crowd from inside the station, injuring over a hundred students.

In Narsingdi, a mob stormed into a prison and freed nearly 900 inmates from the district's central jail and looted some 80 firearms and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition before setting the facility on fire.

A total of 103 were killed, centering the protests in the country. Curfew was imposed in the night; army men were deployed. Internet service was totally suspended in the country.

July 20
At least 26 were killed on the first day of curfew amid army deployment. The key points of clashes in the city include Jatrabari, Uttara, Badda and Mirpur. Clashes also took place in Mohammadpur. At least 26 people were killed on the first day of curfew.
The government extended the curfew until further notice and announced two days of "general holiday" while leaders of the quota movement and some leaders of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were detained.
Anti-discrimination student movement's key coordinator Nahid Islam was picked up by law enforcers on the day.

July 21
The Supreme Court delivers its verdict in the quota case, abolishing most of the quotas for civil service jobs and leaving 93 % percent recruitments in civil service open for general applicants based on merit. Of the quota, 5 percent was set for children of freedom fighters, martyred freedom fighters and Biranganas, one percent for ethnic minorities and one percent for physically challenged and third gender people.

Meanwhile, a joint statement was sent to the newsmen on behalf of 56 coordinators around 4:30pm urging the students to intensify the 'complete shutdown'. The statement said over 300 students and people were killed. The government cannot shun the responsibility of killing, simply using a court order, it added, alleging that the police picked up some key organisers and tried in vain to compel them to issue a charged up statement.

Chiefs of three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) meet Hasina, as UN, EU, UK voice concern over violence. The curfew continued, and seven more people are killed.

July 22
At least six more hurt in previous days' clashes died. Hasina warns BNP and Jamaat of consequences; army chief hopes for return of normalcy. While arrests of BNP and Jamaat leaders continue.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the gazette notification on quota reform which was prepared based on the court order. A total of 13 more deaths were reported in the clashes on the day taking the death toll to 187.

July 23
Govt issues circular reforming quota system in line with the Supreme Court verdict, but four quota reform protest organisers rejected it. Arrests and raids targeting opposition leaders and demonstrators continue amid curfew. Many people were also killed on the day. The arrest of opposition leaders continues.
Broadband internet services were gradually restored with priority, followed by full restoration the next day. 

July 24
Inter-district bus and launch services resume partially. Broadband internet services were restored.

Meanwhile, the three coordinators of the 'anti-discriminatory student movement', a platform that waged the quota reform movement, were found after being missing for five days. The trio -- Asif Mahmud, Abu Baker Majumdar and Rifat Rashid -- were picked up by unknown persons on July 19. Both Asif and Baker posted on Facebook that they were left blindfolded five days after being picked up. Asif Mahmud was thrown blindfolded in the Hatirjheel area of the capital while Abu Baker in the Dhanmondi area.

July 25
JP leader Andaleeve Rahman Partha, businessman David Hasnat, among dozen others, was arrested, as social media remains off-limits. As UN, Amnesty International, the US, Canada call for an end to crackdown, Hasina makes first public appearance since army deployment and visits a damaged metro rail station.

Three more die under treatment, taking death toll to 204. Curfew was relaxed for 9 hours on weekends Friday and Saturday. While Amnesty states that police used lethal weapons on protesters.

Students said they do not see the circular for quota reforms, made without consulting the stakeholders, to be a solution. No law was passed in parliament regarding quota so a final solution has not been reached yet, said a statement issued in the name of coordinator Nahid Islam.

July 26
The Detective Branch of police picks up three organisers. 'Block raids' commence all over the country. At least 555 cases were filed and 6,264 arrested. Hasina visits Dhaka Medical College Hospital on the second day of public appearance after the curfew announcement. The UN calls for an end to crackdown and full restoration of internet services.
The Detective Branch of Bangladesh's police department picks up three movement coordinators- Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumdar.

July 27
Block raids targeting protesters, mostly students, continue. DMP's Detective Branch takes two more coordinators- Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah, into custody. DB office said they have been taken into custody to provide them with personal security and to know about the recent events.

In the last 11 days, a total of 9,121 persons have been arrested. Of them, 2,536 have been arrested in the capital alone.

Diplomatic missions of 14 Western countries in Dhaka issue a joint letter, calling for law enforcers to be held accountable for wrongdoings. The Detective Branch picks up two more organizers of the student movement. Police continue raids to arrest students.

Hasina visits Pangu Hospital to see the injured and said violence was committed to cripple the economy.

July 28
The DB took one of the coordinators of the quota reform movement, Nusrat Tabassum, into custody. Later, a video recorded at the DB office was sent at around 9:00pm to the media where the six coordinators earlier taken into custody read out a written statement announcing withdrawal of all programmes.

However, three coordinators -- Mahin Sarkar, Abdul Quader and Abdul Hannan Masud -- stated that the video message of the six coordinators in DB custody was not the actual stance of the protestors saying the coordinators were held hostage at the DB office and forced to read out the message.

They said in separate messages that the six coordinators' video statement was made at gunpoint in the DB office. The DB office is never a place for a students' press conference.

Nationwide crackdown goes on, with over 2.13 lakh people accused in over 200 cases in Dhaka city alone. Mobile internet is back, but social media remains shut.

Government announces the death toll for the first time, setting it at 147.

July 29
Students and people resumed large-scale demonstrations across various regions of the country after the government ignored an ultimatum to release their leaders. Police arrested 2,822 students in Dhaka.

Government announces plan to ban Jamaat-Shibir. HC rebukes DB over handling of the six quota organisers, including sharing the photograph of having a meal with them on social media.

University professors across Bangladesh, under the "Anti-Repression Teachers Rally" banner, have called for an end to student harassment and mass arrests. They demanded the release of detained students and expressed solidarity with ongoing student protests.

The rally, held at Dhaka University's Aparajeyo Bangla in the morning began with a moment of silence for students killed in the recent quota reform movement, which the teachers labeled the "July Massacre."

The Cabinet meeting decided to observe a day of mourning on Tuesday in memory of those killed in violence. Anti-Discrimination student movement rejects the day of mourning, declared by the government. In a counter move, they declare an online campaign, posting pictures with red bands around their mouths and eyes.

July 30
The government observes a "mourning day" in memory of those who lost their lives in the violence, but students reject the day. Supporters of the student movement turn their social media profiles red to show their rejection and staged demos in capital, elsewhere. 

The six quota movement organisers were still in DB custody. While hundreds of HSC students announce boycott of exams if fellow examinees are not released from police custody/jail. 

Students and teachers of Jahangirnagar University hold silent procession, teachers of several universities hold rallies, guardians protest death of children, obstructed by cops. Eminent citizens blame the government for loss of lives. Hasina says the government will take "foreign help" for the judicial probe, and announces nationwide mourning for the next day. Police crackdown continues.

July 31
Students across the country staged protest named "March for Justice" in response to the series of killings, mass arrests, attacks, lawsuits, enforced disappearances, and murders of students and citizens. 
The protest was scheduled to take place at 12:00 pm across court premises, campuses, and streets nationwide, advocating for nine specific demands of the students. 

At 11:20 am, students from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) and other educational institutions in Sylhet marched from the university gate towards Court Point in support of the protest.

Around 01:15 pm in the city, students from BUET, Dhaka University, and several other universities marched towards the High Court. Their progress was halted by the police near the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, resulting in the detention of several students. In response, the students gathered at Doel Chatter, later joined by teachers from Dhaka University's White Panel. The protest in Dhaka ended around 3:00 pm after nearly three hours of demonstration. 

By 11:00 am, protesters began assembling at the Chattogram Court premises. Despite police barricades, around 200 protesters entered the premises and staged a sit-in. A group of 50 to 60 pro-BNP lawyers stood in solidarity with the students, while pro-Awami League lawyers conducted a counter-march. 

The protest in Chattogram concluded around 03:15 with a march from the court premises to the New Market intersection.

From 12:20 pm to 1:00 pm, University of Rajshahi students blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway as part of the protest. Police detained five students from the university during the demonstration. 

At 3:00 pm on the day, after being shut down for 13 days, Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms were reopened. 

August 1
The government issued a notification banning the Jamaat-e-Islami party and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, as well as its affiliated bodies under anti-terrorism Act. UN offers to send a fact-finding team, Meanwhile, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said "UN is free to probe violence". Six organizers of the movement were released from police custody. Protesters hold mass processions and prayers for those killed. Teachers, students of five public universities stage demos.

August 2
Demonstrators continue to protest against killings; thousands join the march for justice. Protesters attacked by AL activists and police in capital, and elsewhere, left two more dead. Protesters announce a countrywide demo for next day and non-cooperation movement from August 4.

Facebook was blocked again for seven hours. Six organizers, who were in DB custody said "statement of withdrawal made from DB office was not voluntary".

Following the ongoing violence and sabotage incidents, 78 HSC candidates arrested in related cases have been granted bail from various courts across the country. Among them, 55 are from the Dhaka division, 14 from the Chittagong division, six from the Khulna division, and three from the Rangpur division.

Meanwhile, the United Nations agency for children and culture, UNICEF, expressed concern over the deaths of at least 32 children during the protest crackdown surrounding the 2024 Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh in July. 

UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera urged swift measures to ensure that children return to school again. 

August 3 
Central coordinator Nahid Islam announced that they had no plans to negotiate with the government and made the announcement of Long March to Dhaka programme demanding resignation of Hasina and the formation of a "national government" headed by a person who is "acceptable to all."

Hasina offers talks but students reject her proposal.

At around 5:30 PM, Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators, addressed the assembled crowd at Shaheed Minar, where the Anti-discrimination Students Movement announced a single demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet and called for a comprehensive non-cooperation movement from August 4 which marked the end of the quota protests.

Around 10:30 AM, students from various educational institutions in Rajshahi marched and gathered in front of the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), chanting slogans. The students took to the streets with a single demand: the resignation of the Prime Minister.

In Chittagong, there was an attack on the residence of Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury. During this incident, two cars parked in front of the house were vandalized, and one of them was set on fire. Earlier, around 5:30 PM, there was also an attack on the office of Md Mohiuddin Bacchu, the Member of Parliament for Chittagong-10, located in the Lalkhan Bazar. The office was set on fire during the attack. In another incident in Sreepur, Gazipur one person was killed during clashes between police and protesting students.

In Rangpur, two police officers have been temporarily suspended in connection with the death of Abu Sayed, a student at Begum Rokeya University and a key coordinator of the quota reform movement there. The two officers are - ASI Amir Hossain of Rangpur Police Lines and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy of Tajhat Police Station.

In Sylhet, clashes occurred between the police and the students along with the public leaving at least over a hundred people injured.

At around 1:30 PM in Race Course, Comilla, leaders and activists of the Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Swechchha Sevak League attacked student movement protesters and fired openly at the students, resulting in 10 students being shot and a total of 30 people being injured.

In Bogra, there were repeated clashes between protesting students and the police. From 4 PM to around 6 PM, these confrontations lasted nearly two hours. During the conflict, the police fired tear gas shells, sound grenades, rubber bullets, and shotgun rounds. Several areas of the city, including Satmatha, Circuit House Mor, Romena Afaz Road, Kalibari Mor, Bir Muktijoddha Rezaul Baki Road, and Jailkhana Mor, turned into battlegrounds. 

At least six students were shot, and an additional fifty students were injured.

August 4 
The day became the deadliest of the protests with around 91 people killed, including 14 police officers as widespread clashes broke out in Dhaka and in at least 21 districts of the country. Media reports say at least 90 people were killed in the violence. The dead include 13 policemen who were beaten to death by a mob in Sirajganj. 

Clashes erupted between protesters and police, while protesters blocked major highways. Police stations as well as Awami League offices were targeted by protesting students and people. Police forces shot tear gas and claimed to have fired rubber bullets although some people were injured and killed by actual bullets. The renewed demonstrations led the government to shut down the internet and to declare an indefinite nationwide curfew starting from 6 pm.

Hasina criticised the protesting students saying that those who engage in "sabotage" and destruction were no longer students but terrorists, while the protesters called for her to resign.

Students announce a plan to hold a march to Dhaka from all parts of the country with the aim to force the government to resign. The army and police urge people not to break curfew or defy the law.

Former Army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan urged the government to withdraw troops and condemned the killings. Current Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman stated the armed forces "always stood by the people".

August 5: 
Thousands of people from different parts of the country defy the curfew to converge on the capital's center. On the eve of Hasina's downfall, the Awami League displayed aggression by attacking protesters in various locations. Thousands of students and countrymen, responding to the "March to Dhaka" call, began heading towards the capital. By midday, crowds storm Hasina's official residence.

By the afternoon, Hasina handed over her resignation letter to President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Then Hasina along with her sister Sheikh Rehana fled to neighboring country India by a military aircraft. 

Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman invited several political parties for talks and later, confirmed that an interim government would be formed. 

Celebration parades erupted across Dhaka, as the public took control of the Ganabhaban, the prime minister's residence, confiscating items. 

In the evening, President Mohammed Shahabuddin met with leaders of various political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat, at Bangabhaban and announced that an interim government would be formed in the earliest possible time.