Did you know over a thousands students lost their lives during a protest this summer 2024?

Is it just a protest or there is more to it?

J: “The authorities intervent their peaceful protest. Not only by passing orders to the army to shoot at site, but also arresting a lot of them and make them hostages”.

A concept we’ve seen over and over again in history. The situation in Bangladesh was no different. The following blog walks you through the protest, and its after effects.The protest came into existent followed by the frustrations of a society packed with inequality and pie-crust promises. At the core of the unrest lies a discriminatory job quota system that many view as corruption and unfairness. University students belonging from a working class background could not find a stable post graduate employment, even after being more than qualified.Even though Bangladesh’s economy faced Originally brought into the systems to honor the legacy of the 1971 liberation war. The system reserves a significant percentage of the public sector jobs, if we look at the stats, 56% being reserved including 30% for the children, and grandchildren of the freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for the district, 5%for the indigenous communities ,and 1 % for individuals with disabilities. The remaining 44% of the job is open to all applicants, including the general public; which sounds discriminatory to me.

The agony and anger behind these protests were triggered by a similar movement in 2018, when students made peaceful demands to reform the job reservation policy in a fair way. Instead of talking it out, the authorities responded with delays and heavy handed tactics. This betrayal left a lasting impression and anger on the youth whose voices were left unheard, their rights ignored, and future uncertain.

Even in such state of mind with how things went back in 2018, on 15th july 2024 , the students opt for a peaceful protest just to let their voices heard, but the authorities did not let that happen instead they set up a conflict against the students. Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina referred the protestors as “Razakars” which is an extremely offensive term used for the Pakistani Military during the liberation war back in 1971. The students asking for a fair authority does not make them traitors. Nonetheless, she tried to spread fake news around the world defaming the students as threats to the country. What began as peaceful requests quickly turned into a violent approach. The situation slipped out of control, with conflicts between the protestors, police, and the ruling party suppression, understating the political discourse in Bangladesh. The violence reflected more on a deeper demand for systemic reform, transparency, and accountability in governance.

The authorities in bangladesh established violent measures to put down the student protest over the reformation of the job quota system, using legal forces to scare them and to maintain their grip on power. Protestors had to confront police batons, tear gas, and water canons, but when these measures could not stop the students, that’s when the authorities uplift their responses in dreadful ways by setting up a curfew otherwise, the police officers and the bangladesh army were ordered to open fire from helicopters on whoever disobeys the curfew. This was no less than a massacre when there were raining bullets on unarmed people who were demanding nothing but a fair chance at being employed. A lof of protestor groups were being set on fire, with orders coming from the higher authorities to withhold the movement whatsoever. Abu Sayed, a student who was shot 4 times by the police and died before he was taken to the hospital. His death created a stronger motive to keep the protest on because he was killed without any validations. Just when the students took an initiative to make their voices heard internationally, the authorities imposed an internet blackout throughout the country, including the mobile networks.The purpose of the blackout was to isolate the protestors from the world, and bury the matter.

Despite these brutal acts of suppression, the students stood their ground with no fear of death. Their firm attitude inspire the general public to join them, changing the protest into a nationwide movement for justice and liability. For 36 terrifying days, the streets were filled with chants for reforms, banners calling for justice, and thousands of people united against a system that is outdated and unjust. The protestors faced physical violence including uncountable threats to their lives, but nothing seemed to stop their will to make this happen. After uncounted deaths and sacrifices, the protest took a turn and their demands transformed from a quota reform movement to the resignation of the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. For a better context, Sheikh Hasina, a 76 year old female has been labelled as the longest serving prime minister since the past 15years; and refused to handover the power to any other party.

I have conducted an interview with my cousin, J who was in Bangladesh in that time of the protest. A Little part of our interview is in this recording and the rest is the translated transcript of our conversation below.

Interviewer: “How would you describe the response of the government and law enforcement to the protests?”

J: “The government responded to this protest very brutally by mis-using their power. Some of were their responses were verbal, and others were violence even shooting.i think that the authorities could resolve this matter with peace, instead they turned this into a war against the students”. 

Interviewer: : “Were there moments of hope or fear that stood out?”

J: “Yes, there were moments of fear because hundreds of innocent people were losing their lives, many lost their your sons and daughters, others lost brothers and sister, and most importantly we lost so many brave soldiers who would do anything for their mothers land. However, there were moments of hope because the students believed that they will win in this fight of fairness”.

Interviewer:  “What challenges did the protestors face from the authorities ?”

J: “The authorities intervent their peaceful protest. Not only by passing orders to the army to shoot at site, but also arresting a lot of them and make them hostages”.

Interviewer:  In your point of view, did the protestors achieve their goals?

J: “Yes, they achieved their goals and after, the prime minister resigned and fled the country. Now bangladesh has an interim government”.

Interviewer: Do you feel the media portrayed the protests accurately? Were there aspects that were underreported or misrepresented?

J: “No, I dont think that all of the news were portrayed accurately because the government didnt want the world to know how corrupted they are. Instead, a lot of news channels   broadcasted rumours  showcasing that the students were   “Rajakars” aka traitors and they are ones causing violence”.

Interviewer: How did you feel? Were you scared ?

J: “I went to bangladesh for my summer break, and planned on hanging out. However, the ongoing lockdown didn’t let that happen. While i was home I constantly heard shootings every now and then for couple days. I always wondered if i could go back to the US safely as all the flights to and from  bangladesh were shut down for about a week”.

Interviewer: What were some of the upsetting events you witnessed during the protests?

J: “I would say that witnessing murders of innocent students shattered me. Not only the pr¹otestors but a 6 year old girl also  got shot in her rooftop while playing. It was very disturbing how horrific and devastating the violence”.

Dhaka Tribune reports, ” little Riya was playing on the roof when a stray bullet from a clash surrounding the quota reform movement struck her .She was immediately rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she remained unconscious and under treatment for five days. Dipak, holding his daughter’s lifeless body wrapped in a blanket on a stretcher, expressed his grief and despair: “I had everything. What will happen now? Who will I seek justice from? She was a treasure born after a long wait. After many years of marriage, I had this child. And now, her body is on my shoulders. The child who used to light up our home is no more”

Not only locally, but internationally the students all over the world raised their voices about this. Even if the government tried to suppress the truth from the world followed by a blackout, their attempts went in vain because students and activist from all around the world responded with conducting protests in the Major cities including New York, Canada, London, Beijing , Sydney, and many more. these protests served as an example of how interwind the modern world is and how injustice is universally criticized. Few months back when I was walking through a street in Queens, New York, I saw a chant written on a store’s shutter which made me realize how big this was even outside of Bangladesh.

The boiling point of the protest is when the prime minister had no choice but to resign and flee the country. Chants of resilience and hopes had been heard within the streets of Bangladesh for the longest time despite fear and acts of violence . From students to elderly citizens, protestors of all age united together and believed in what they were doing, risking everything just to call for justice and accountability. For the authority, it became nearly impossible to ignore the pressure as the call for reforms echoed both domestically and internationally. Ultimately, the prime minister was forced to step down. Her departure was a deep satisfaction. the triumph meant more to them, than the demise of a single leader. The victory respresnted the strength of unity and courage in the midst of injustice.

The streets had previously been blue over the death of hundreds of innocent students who are now the martyr. However this victory made all their sufferings and patience worthwhile. Tears of restlessness turned into tears of joy. In our hearts, we always honor them. Their courage, determination and bravery is the reason we have a peaceful country with a better future in the making.