1000 Died 3500+ injured
The first generation z (genz) revolution the world has witnesed, known as the secound liberaton ,freedom from the dictator
July 16 it was 6am in the morning, I woke up with notifications breaking my social media I checked my phone and saw thousands of quota protesters joined by public university students marched on the streets of Dhaka on mid night as Prime minister the head of the state who was the Prime minister for the 3rd consecutive time by rigging elections marked the quota protesters as “RAZZAKARS”
A little introduction to the background
Quota protest
Students who were protesting to remove 70% reservation on government jobs for the Grand children’s of the freedom fighters during 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.
Razzakar
Razzakar is an Arabic origin word which means volunteer. but in context of Bangladesh, it is the most expletive and disrespectful WORD in Bangla dictionary. Which means a traitor an anti-national with lack of integrity and commitment towards the nation.
Political situation and context
The dictatorial government was in power for past 16 years by faking elections. From military to judiciary every where was Hasina’s (pm) men and with 70% reserve quota system Hasina put their loyal and trust ones in the govt so that no one can question the illegitimate works of the govt But the new generation Z didn’t accept this dictatorial rule planned to protest against the government to change the system.
The first martyr and nasty use of power : The next morning police fired bullets on a 24 year old arm less student protester Abu sayeed and used their political party goons to beat students who joined the protest
The death of Abu sayeed and using thugs on female students, triggered the students of entire nation all the school, collage, university students, on July 17th evening all the students decided to come to the streets next morning to protest against the killing of Abu sayeed and using thugs on our sisters. The government gave strict warnings and announced to empty all the student dorms immediately.
The next day 18th July government used full power to stop the protest 100s of student died 1000 injured the entire city was burning, sounds of bullets and smell of smoke was all around.
This video shows classmates carrying a dead body of their friend at BRAC university killed by the bullets of police
The Government issued curfew, Turned the internet connections off to spread news to the outer world, put military on the street with shoot at sight order, and kidnaped the 6 main coordinators of the protest on midnight from their homes.
But this is Generation Z. Before getting arrested by the government officials in the darkness of the night they issued a list of 210 coordinators to take charge and lead the protest one after another.
For next 10 days student leaders were badly tortured and a photo was leaked of a student coordinator “Nahid Islam” in the police custody with marks of brutally tortured. They were forced to announced the end of protest through a video from the police custody but in the coordinators cleverly indicated no to stop the protest with the sign of Morse code which was a significant physiological victory against the dictator, this made bangladeshi students join the protest from all over the world. Washington DC, London , Milan, Dubai, Toronto they were in the streets for freedom and on august 1st they were bound to release them.
After the release from the police custody the student leaders declared complete shutdown the protest turns into a turmoil in a form of war this media report shows the flames of 2nd August
On August 3rd 2024 while the protest is still on, the student leaders asked to entire country to be at the “National Martyr Monument” next day 4th august 3pm .
The Final Declaration August 4th
On 4th August thousands of people gathered at the National Martyr Monument, people of all ages all profession joined in, as far eye goes there were full of patriot people singing the song “sheh je amar jonmobhumi” (My Motherland will die for you).
In front of hundreds of thousands the student leader Nahid Islam declared: I request to the people of my country that tomorrow we will march towards Dhaka and surround prime minister’s residence from all sides. This is our one point last move resignation of hasina. we will either die or make our country free. Motherland or Death.
5th August 12.00am
Thousands of people from all over the country marching towards the capital.
North-entry in the capital city 3:00 am in the morning people gathered from their house to join the march towards PM’s residence.
1:30pm suddenly Army officers leave their check post and allowed people to come in the capital. There was no end of that march as far eye goes.
2:00pm moment of joy
Prime minister has resigned and fled the country “BBC
People of the country has taken over the Gonobhaban (PM’s official residence) Bangladesh is FREE.
I interviewed my friend Redwan Dhrubo who was a part of this protest from the beginning click the link
tRANSLATION OF HIS VIDEO:
Today I will share the most fireless and risky experience of my life, mainly this protest started with the fair demand for quota which later turned into an antigovernmental protest, For the first time in my life I witnessed what curfew look like and how scary mass killing can be. I was not a part of quota protest but eventually when I saw how brutally they (gov) are killing my brothers like birds, disrespect and shooting on my sisters I couldn’t stay at home. Initially I was scared of life but not more then the love for my motherland. I remember it was 18th of July when me and my friend Ausaf went to the protest. The memory is still fresh on my mind we were at the center of our city, every thing was good we were in the rally all of a sudden a tear shell fall in the middle and then it was all chaos every body started running to save their life me and Ausaf got separated, I with many other protesters took shelter for 6 hours at the basement of a building as tear gas can’t reach that level, I have lost count how many tear shell and bullets were fired that day I could only hear the sounds. That 6 hours I will never forget mobile network and internet was cut off not sure if Ausaf has survived or not. I reached home at 10pm my parents were terrified praying for my life got to know that Ausaf is also fine he just got hurt on his knee, But at last all is worth it as on 5th of august we were able to bring democracy, independence, freedom of speech and most importantly the right of a citizen. but in terms of losing I lost my brothers my co-warriors in the protest, whose bloods are still on the streets, we got independence by the cost of our brother’s blood, we genZ will never forget this sacrifice I’m proud to be a part of this fearless generation.
The Aftermath
On 8th of august 2024 the people of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh choose Noble laurate Mohammed Yunus as the head of their country.
The guy himself is a legacy, the 84 year old Economist known as the banker for the poor is one of only seven persons to have won the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal
At last, we won! but this victory came with the cost of many young youthful life of same age as mine. Some were even younger then me. Now it’s time for us to make the red and green flag proud . Our martyr brothers have sacrificed their life so that we can built our country and we will do that! it’s a promise to my dear martyrs
Student leader Nahid Islam made it to US-based TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential youths shaping global dynamics in 2024.
Bangladesh named The Economist’s country of the year
South China Morning post, july 2024, https://youtu.be/FZ77Wh-SlQ0.
Bangla vision. 5th august 2024, https://youtu.be/sd7cmAWWGuU.
BBC news. 5th august 2024, https://youtu.be/H_6J3jfRfAw.
The business standard. 18th July 2024, https://youtu.be/QsN-1PxjztE.
Channel24. july 2024, https://youtu.be/uhhgzr1_d0Q.
The daily star. 24 july 2024,
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/editorial/news/accountability-must-be-ensured-3660771
The Indian express. August 2024, https://youtu.be/9lXxrR2NAvI.
Jamuna tv. July 2024, https://youtu.be/RCBSo8x8YKE.
The business standard : https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bangladesh-named-economists-country-year-1023056
The economist: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/12/19/the-economists-country-of-the-year-for-2024