Dhaka, August 5, 2025 – Today marks the first anniversary of a historic day in Bangladesh, when a student-led quota reform movement transformed into a mass uprising, leading to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government. On August 5, 2024, after over 15 years of what many describe as authoritarian rule, Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and flee the country, marking a turning point in Bangladesh’s contemporary history. This victory, however, was not sudden—it was built on prolonged resistance, bloodshed, sacrifice, and an unforgettable people’s uprising.
**The Spark of the Quota Crisis**
The movement began on June 5, 2024, when the High Court declared a 2018 government circular abolishing quotas in public sector jobs invalid. The following day, students from Dhaka University took to the streets in protest. By June 9, the movement gained momentum, with students issuing an ultimatum to the government to meet their demands by June 30. The protests soon spread to universities across the country, with blockades on major roads, railway lines, and key areas like Shahbag and Jahangirnagar.
**‘Bangla Blockade’: A New Chapter of Resistance**
The student movement evolved into a nationwide phenomenon, with universities, colleges, schools, and even madrasas joining the cause. Under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, students announced the “Bangla Blockade,” paralyzing the capital on July 7. On July 8, a central coordination team was formed, giving the movement newfound organizational strength and momentum.
**‘Who Are You? Who Am I?’ – A Nation Awakens**
On July 14, Sheikh Hasina, in a press conference, referred to the protesting students as descendants of “razakars” (collaborators during the 1971 Liberation War). This sparked outrage, and that night, Dhaka University’s dormitories erupted in protests. The slogan “Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, razakar!” became a rallying cry, spreading across the country and galvanizing the movement. The protests grew fiercer, with students standing firm against the ruling Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League.
**A Chapter Written in Blood: Abu Sayed and July 16**
On July 16, Abu Sayed, an English department student at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was killed by police gunfire. The image of him facing bullets with his chest bared went viral on social media, igniting nationwide anger and unity. On the same day, others, including Wasim, Shanto, Faruk in Chittagong, and Shahjahan in Dhaka, lost their lives. The movement transformed into a national resistance against oppression.
**Curfews, Internet Shutdowns, and Global Support**
On July 18, the students called for a complete nationwide shutdown. The government responded by cutting off mobile and broadband internet, imposing curfews, and deploying the military. Yet, the movement persisted, with Bangladeshi expatriates providing technical support to keep communication channels open.
**Unrelenting Violence and Resilience**
By July 19, over 200 students and civilians had been killed in attacks by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police, including a child named Riya, shot from a helicopter. Despite continuous repression, arrests, and disappearances, the protests grew stronger. On July 29, Sheikh Hasina announced a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, a move widely seen as a political tactic to discredit the movement.
**August: From Mourning to Resistance**
Rejecting the government’s call for a “Month of Mourning,” the protesters declared a “July Heroes’ Month” to honor the martyrs. From August 2, the movement crystallized into a single demand: “Sheikh Hasina must resign.” Red cloth masks, coffin processions, and funeral prayers for the fallen became symbols of defiance.
**August 5: The Final Push**
On August 5, 2024, the “March to Dhaka” began at 10 a.m., with millions converging on the capital. Despite police firing, the army refused to shoot at protesters. By 1:30 p.m., news spread that Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana had fled to India via military helicopter. At 2:30 p.m., television channels broadcast her resignation, and later that afternoon, the army chief announced the formation of an interim government. In a symbolic act of rage, an enraged crowd at Bijoy Sarani toppled a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader and Hasina’s father, as reported by *Naya Diganta*.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resignation_of_Sheikh_Hasina)
**Interim Government and a New Beginning**
On August 8, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate, was sworn in as the head of the interim government. An advisory council was formed, tasked with restoring democracy, restructuring the economy, and advancing justice for war crimes.
**A Painful Victory**
The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government was celebrated with tears, prayers, and embraces across the streets. However, the victory came at a heavy cost, with over a thousand students and civilians killed and countless others injured. From August 6, detained activists began to be released, marking the start of a new chapter.
**Legacy of the Uprising**
The sacrifices of martyrs like Abu Sayed, Tamim, and Riya, alongside countless others, wrote a new chapter in Bangladesh’s history. August 5 is not just a date—it is a symbol of democracy, justice, and collective resistance, forever etched in the nation’s memory.
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