Looking Back: The July Uprising and the “March to Dhaka” Declaration

Dhaka Correspondent

August 4, 2024, marked a violent turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape, as anti-discrimination student protests escalated into nationwide unrest. The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, responded with a forceful crackdown that left over a hundred people dead many of them civilians and injured hundreds more.

Government Crackdown Turns Deadly
What began as peaceful demonstrations soon turned violent when law enforcement and alleged ruling party supporters reportedly used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas against unarmed protestors across the country. The day ended with reports of over a hundred fatalities and mass injuries, particularly in Dhaka, Sirajganj, and Comilla.

In Sirajganj’s Enayetpur, 13 police officers were reportedly killed in clashes, while a similar incident in Comilla’s Eliotganj left one officer dead. Protesters, mostly students and youth, wielded sticks, while ruling party cadres were allegedly seen carrying firearms, pistols, and makeshift weapons.

Clashes in the Capital
In Dhaka, key protest zones including Shahbagh, Dhanmondi, Paltan, and Science Lab turned into battlegrounds. Eight people were confirmed dead in the capital, with more than 222 injured—63 of whom required hospitalization. Protesters attempted to resist using stones and sticks. Police responded with gas shells, sound grenades, and gunfire.

Protesters set fire to vehicles and attacked party offices and police boxes. Incidents of arson and vandalism were reported from Uttara, Khilgaon, Mirpur, and Old Dhaka, where a police vehicle was torched near Victoria Park.

Nationwide Violence and Transport Blockade
By afternoon, the entire nation came to a halt. Student-led non-cooperation movements shut down public transport including buses and trains. In over 50 districts, there were reports of large-scale violence, arson, and clashes with ruling party affiliates.

More than 38 districts including Chandpur, Barisal, Dinajpur witnessed attacks on homes and offices of MPs, ministers, and police stations. Government offices and ruling party offices were reportedly targeted by mobs.

Media Blackout and Internet Shutdown
The government imposed curfews in several cities from 6:00 PM onwards and attempted to cut off communication by shutting down mobile internet and access to social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Despite the measures, protests continued until late evening in many regions. Eyewitnesses described the scale of violence as “unprecedented in recent decades.

Allegations of State-Sponsored Brutality
Allegations emerged that Awami League supporters, along with affiliated groups such as Chhatra League and Jubo League, coordinated attacks on protesters with police support. Video footage and eyewitness reports suggested the presence of firearms and planned offensives.

Senior AL leader Jahangir Kabir Nanak held a press conference stating that the party had reached “the limit of patience,” accusing protestors of being part of a “militant group.

Meanwhile, at least 20 Awami League district offices were vandalized. Homes of ministers and MPs came under attack in 13 districts, including Kushtia, Nilphamari, and Mymensingh.

The Declaration: “March to Dhaka”
On August 5, student coordinators announced the “March to Dhaka” program as a one-point demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The protest march was initially scheduled for August 6 but was moved forward due to the

escalating violence.
At around 3:00 PM in Shahbagh, Nahid Islam, one of the protest leaders, declared “The Awami League has unleashed their party cadres to create civil war. We are determined to march to victory. We are giving time, but if this brutality continues, we will not sit silent. He called on citizens to form “Resistance Committees” in every neighborhood and vowed to continue occupying Shahbagh until the government resigns.

A Nation at the Crossroads:
The violent suppression of what began as a movement for quota reform turned into a broader rebellion, fueled by public outrage. August 4 now stands as a grim reminder of the human cost of political suppression and has raised serious concerns about the state of democratic rights in Bangladesh.