By Abak Hussain

July 2024 was a time that shook Bangladesh to its core and changed the nation forever, dislodging a regime that had been in power continuously for the last 15 years, and for even longer if you count its previous eras. When the student movement that started in July spilled out onto August, protesters continued to count the date in terms of July, thus culminating in July 36, when former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, faced with an overwhelming crowd of protesters and deafening calls for resignation, fled to India. So much has happened in such a short time, and so much noise surrounds the issue that for many, especially those living abroad, it might be hard to get a clear picture. Here we present a diary of events, as a brief recap of seismic events that cannot be actually be explained in brief.

JULY 14

The PM at a press conference has just made a remark she can never take back. Instead of listening to the very reasonable quota demands, as always she has decided to go on the offensive, labelling student protesters as razakars. Her words: “If the grandchildren of muktijoddhas don’t get quota benefits, then who should get them, the grandchildren of razakars?” Bad move, PM. This seems like adding fuel to the fire.

JULY 15

Protesters are on the streets in full force demanding the reformation of the quota system. They are enraged at the PM’s comments as well. It seems like an all-too-easy fix for her to label as a razakar anyone she doesn’t like. Well this time it won’t work. As for the basic demands – we have seen this before, but due to an overturning of the initial ruling that appeared to acquiesce to the protesters’ demands, these demands have flared up again. The protesters are calling for scrapping the quota system as we know it, so that candidates are picked based on merit, rather than muktijoddha lineage. But now, Chhatra League are attacking protesters at Dhaka University. The scene is utter chaos. The number of wounded is estimated to be over 300.

JULY 16

Chhatra League has not succeeded in quashing the protests. In fact, the protests have flared up even further. Six people have been killed. Colleges and universities are shutting down, and it seems that students are taking back control of their campuses and hitting back at Chhatra League. BCL, once the campus-terror, is being punched back, and hard. Protesters are growing in unity and losing their fear of the regime. This looks like war is brewing. Where are things headed, does anybody know?

JULY 18

A dark day for Bangladesh. At least 29 have died throughout the country in bloody clashes. BCL and police have blood of innocent students on their hands. Many are lashing out by vandalizing state property. The government, instead of reaching out for a deal, is responding in an authoritarian fashion, blocking the internet and announcing a curfew starting midnight.

JULY 19

Curfew! No internet! What kind of world are we living in? The violence goes on, 66 people are killed countrywide. More vandalism in retaliation. Some of the vandalism though is done by opportunists who have nothing to do with the protests.

JULY 20

Army on the streets. Are we at war? 21 people are killed. Curfew extended. Quota protester leaders picked up and detained.

JULY 21

Looks like Hasina is under international pressure over all the violence. Seven more are killed.

JULY 22

The death toll soars to 146. The country is on edge.

JULY 23

The Hasina-led government finally sends out a circular reforming the quota system, and internet is partially restored. But this is too little, too late. Protesters are rejecting these appeasing crumbs, as their demands are now a bit bigger …

JULY 25

Hasina, ignoring all the deaths, goes to inspect the metro rail station and sheds crocodile tears over the damage. People are NOT buying it. Even international media is turning against her. BBC is highlighting how her act of prizing property over human life is drawing jeers.

JULY 26

More of the organizers picked up by DB. More pressure from UN to end the crackdown and restore internet. Government is scrambling for solution. This is a self-dug hole they see no realistic way out of. Still, the delusion among the top brass continues.

JULY 27

More arrests. Hasina carries on with her narrative of property damage. Says violence was committed to hurt the economy.

JULY 28

Internet is still down. Six of the organizers are taken into custody, and a statement is released saying the movement has been called off. Smells fishy, and typical of this regime’s forced retractions.

JULY 29

Hasina calls for nationwide mourning. Is she serious?

JULY 31

We the citizens are rejecting this hypocritical call for mourning. This time it’s a movement against the government itself.

AUGUST 2 AKA JULY 33

The organizers are saying what we have suspected all along. They never gave a statement of withdrawal. Thousands march for justice. There is no turning back now. This is now a clash of two massive forces.

AUGUST 3 AKA JULY 34

An unprecedented gathering at Shaheed Minar. The demand is now crystal clear, boiled down to a single point: the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. Nothing less will do. It is hard to imagine someone like Hasina backing down, but also hard to imagine this movement ever stopping. Things are at a fever pitch.

AUGUST 4 AKA JULY 35

More clashes. Bangladesh is a war zone. Looks like tomorrow is a curfew, but … they are announcing the March to Dhaka. Turnout promises to be massive. We are getting ready for D-Day

AUGUST 5 AKA JULY 36

Countless people are defying the curfew and marching to Shahbagh and Gonobhobon. But there is news in the air? Could it be? She is planning to flee? OK so it’s true. Sheikh Hasina has fled to India. The old government is gone. This is a day etched in the history of the nation, a day when the will of the common people, the masses, won against the concentrated interests of a privileged few at the helm of an authoritarian government. And now the work of rebuilding begins