JULY MASS UPRISING 2024

The July Mass Uprising of 2024 in Bangladesh was a historic student-led movement that began with protests against the reintroduction of a controversial quota system in government jobs. What started as a demand for merit-based recruitment quickly evolved into a nationwide call for democracy, justice, and accountability. The killing of student Abu Sayed by police on July 16 became the turning point, sparking massive protests across the country. In response, state forces launched a brutal crackdown, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people, now remembered as the "July Massacre." Ultimately, the uprising led to the resignation and exile of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. The movement was unique in its decentralized, grassroots nature, driven by students, workers, and ordinary citizens. It marked a dramatic shift in Bangladesh's political landscape and is now commemorated annually as a symbol of people’s power, sacrifice, and the struggle for justice.

The July Revolution, or Student-People's Uprising, was a massive pro-democracy movement in Bangladesh during 2024, sparked by student protests against controversial government job quotas, particularly for children of freedom fighters, after a Supreme Court ruling. What began as peaceful demonstrations in June escalated into widespread civil disobedience and clashes with security forces in July, known as the "July Massacre" due to significant protester casualties. The uprising culminated in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in early August 2024, leading to her resignation and the formation of an interim government, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape. 

• Origin: Started in June 2024 as a "Quota Reform Movement" against discriminatory job quotas after the High Court invalidated a 2018 circular.

• Escalation: Protests grew as the government used force, leading to mass casualties in late July.

• Key Slogan/Demand: "One point demand" for the Prime Minister's resignation.

• Outcome: Led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, ending 16 years of rule.

• Significance: A historic student-led movement demanding democracy, fairness, and an end to perceived dictatorship, with broad public support. 

Background

After the Awami League was elected in the 2008 elections, it abolished the caretaker government system. After that, it won three more consecutive national elections. There were allegations of massive rigging in the national elections of 2014, 2018 and 2024. Most political parties in Bangladesh boycotted the 2014 and 2024 elections. During this time, the government carried out massive torture and arrests of its opponents, with opposition leaders sidelined by sentencing them in various cases. At this time, dissemination of information in the media 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 largely failed to fulfill job creation promises. While the public sector 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, 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, 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. They also detained many dissenters in the name of counterterrorism.

Students launching Bangla Blockade during the quota reform movement in Shahbagh

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

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, 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 "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, the government ordered the internet shut down across the country. The shutdown began on 18 July and ended on 28 July. Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube remained restricted till 5 August.

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).

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 2025 the death toll is over one thousand.

The massacre, known 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, calling them a massacre and expressing doubts about the judiciary's ability to deliver impartial justice, as the inquiry commission was formed by the Hasina government, which is accused of involvement in the massacre. Some academics rejected the government-established public inquiry commission, calling for intervention by the United Nations.

In Sylhet, Nagorik Alem Somaj organized a protest criticizing the killings.

Sheikh Hasina, in her first public statement published through her 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

On 4 August, thousands of protesters gathered at the Shahbag intersection in the morning, obstructing it as a form of civil disobedience 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. Another officer was killed in Eliotganj, Comilla. 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.

In Dhaka, unidentified individuals set fire to and damaged various vehicles, including cars, ambulances, motorcycles, and buses, at the Bangladesh Medical University during the protests. Around 4.30 pm, 11th-grader Golam Nafiz was shot by the police in Dhaka Farmgate area. A photo of him being taken to the hospital on rickshaw went viral, inciting outrage. By 12 pm, users across the country reported internet inaccessibility. The government ordered the closure of Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, and all other Meta-owned services, directing internet service providers to comply by 1 pm.

The government declared a three-day general holiday starting on 5 August, during which banks would also remain closed. Students Against Discrimination confirmed its 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.

Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of Students Against Discrimination, announced that its march to Dhaka had been rescheduled for 5 August. He called on protesters and civilians nationwide to march toward the capital and participate in civil disobedience. Several former Bangladesh Army 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 Brigadier General M. Sakhawat Hossain said 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 Brigadier General 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, saying legal action would be taken against curfew violators.

Students Against Discrimination 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 and Armed Police Battalion committed the Chankharpul massacre to hold the area of Dhaka and disperse the approaching participants of the Long March to Dhaka. At first the police fired tear gas, sound grenades, and rubber bullets. Later, some, like constable Md. Sujon Hossain of the Armed Police Battalion, fired live bullets indiscriminately at the protesters, 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. 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 C-130 transport to Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad, India, where she was received by the Indian national security advisor Ajit Doval along with other senior military officials. Indian foreign minister  S. Jaishankar told the Parliament, "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. 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. However, Wazed called the statement "false and fabricated" and said Hasina "did not give any statement before or after leaving Dhaka".The White House 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".

Victory procession after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina in Shahbagh, Dhaka.

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.^[162]

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.