On 21 July 2024, the Supreme Court advised a reduction of the job quota for descendants of independence fighters to 5 %1709 and ruled that 93 % of jobs should be merit-based.1710 During the following days there was a ‘relative calm’,1711 and protests temporarily subsided.1712 There were, however, ‘scattered incidents of violence’,1713 including the clearance of the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway (more information is available in the previous section covering 20 July 2024).1714 Clashes were also reported in the city of Narsingdi,1715 killing at least four people, according to Prothom Alo,1716 and people where lethally shot during clashes in the Dhaka neighbourhoods of Rayerbagh and Jatrabari.1717 Prothom Alo reported on chases between police and protesters in various locations in the city of Gazipur, injuring more than 100 people, and on protesters attacking and vandalising the mayor’s house and confining her for 45 minutes.1718
On 22 July 2024, coordinators of the student movement suspended protests for 48 hours and launched an ultimatum for the government to withdraw the curfew, restore internet, and stop targeting student protesters.1719 No protests or clashes were reported.1720 Security forces, however, carried out block raids1721 and mass arrests of individuals suspected of being involved in protests, including students and opposition supporters.1722 Thousands of arrests took place across the country in the following days,1723 and several coordinators of the student movement1724 and leaders of BNP and Jamaat-e Islami were arrested.1725 They were allegedly subjected to torture while in detention.1726
On 23 July 2024, the government announced that it would accept the Supreme Court’s ruling1727 and partially restored broadband Internet.1728 Social media applications such as Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and TikTok continued to be restricted,1729 and mobile internet was not restored until 28 July 2024, which kept many disconnected.1730 The curfew was gradually relaxed with extended hours of public movement,1731 as well as public office hours.1732 However, the students refused to accept the government’s adjustments as a final resolution.1733 They had expanded their demands on the government to also dismiss senior officials, arrest police officers and Chhatra League supporters involved in killings of students,1734 and issue a public apology from Hasina.1735 Many among the population were reportedly speaking about the need for Hasina to resign.1736
On 26 July 2024, BNP called for ‘national unity’ among ‘all democratic political parties, social and cultural organizations, and other forces’ to demand the fall of government.1737 In the period 26–28 July 2024, six student leaders were arrested by security forces,1738 some being arrested for a second time while being treated at a hospital for injuries received during their previous detention.1739 On 28 July 2024, the head of DB published a video with six student coordinators withdrawing the protests,1740 which ‘sparked public outrage’.1741 Other coordinators took to the streets and denounced the statement.1742 The DB head was dismissed the next day, and the coordinators were released on 1 August 2024.1743
On 29 July 2024, as the government failed to meet the students’ new demands and arrested several coordinators, protests resumed.1744 Several protests took place,1745 including at Rajshahi University,1746 BM College in Barishal,1747 and Jahangirnagar University.1748 Local media did not report on any clashes or casualties,1749 but there were reports of police obstruction,1750 and dozens being detained.1751 At Barishal University, Chhatra League members attacked protesters with sticks, rods and pipes,1752 injuring at least 15 protesters.1753 The police dispersed a crowd in ECB Chattar in the Dhaka neighbourhood of Mirpur,1754 reportedly by charging with batons. They also detained 10 persons. According to one of the police personnel, protesters were throwing bricks from the alleys in the area.1755
On 30 July 2024, the government announced a national mourning day for those killed during protests,1756 but the student movement rejected it and launched a counter-protest online.1757 The government also banned Jamaat-e-Islami and associated organisations,1758 accusing them of being involved in protest-related violence.1759
On 31 July 2024, the student movement announced a protest programme called ‘March for Justice’, to protest killings, mass arrests, attacks and enforced disappearances during protests,1760 to take place at courts, campuses and streets.1761 Demonstrations inter alia took place outside the High Court in Dhaka and at Dhaka University,1762 and in several other major cities.1763 In some locations, students clashed with the police,1764 that fired teargas, stun grenades, charged with batons1765 and arrested many protesters.1766 Students meanwhile reportedly threw bricks at the police.1767 According to the Daily Star, at least 100 persons were injured across the country.1768 The city of Khulna experienced intense clashes,1769 with some areas turning into ‘warzones’ as reported by Prothom Alo.1770 At least 60 persons were injured and 100 were arrested, according to Dhaka Tribune.1771 In the city of Sylhet, police made use of teargas and stun grenades to disperse a crowd marching towards the court premises,1772 injuring at least 50 persons, according to the Daily Star.1773 The police also charged with batons at protesters in the cities of Thakurgaon and Jashore, according to Dhaka Tribune,1774 as well as in Barishal1775 – leaving 11 people injured, including five journalists.1776
- 1709
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 45; DW, Bangladesh protests: What's next after court cuts quotas?, 22 July 2024, url
- 1710
Al Jazeera, Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina forced to resign: What happened and what’s next?, 5 August 2024, url; DW, Bangladesh protests: What's next after court cuts quotas?, 22 July 2024, url
- 1711
Reuters, Bangladesh factories, banks reopen as curfew is eased after protests taper off, 24 July 2024, url
- 1712
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 45; Al Jazeera, Bangladesh protesters issue demands amid shaky calm, 22 July 2024, url; Guardian (The), Bangladeshi students allege police torture after protests crackdown, 23 July 2024, url
- 1713
Prothom Alo, Curfew day 2: Scattered incidents of violence, protest, 24 July 2024, url
- 1714
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, p. ii; Daily Star (The), Hasina, Quader, Shamim Osman accused in N'ganj murder case, 19 August 2024, url
- 1715
Daily Star (The), At least 7 killed, on 2nd day of curfew, 22 July 2024, url
- 1716
Prothom Alo, Curfew day 2: Scattered incidents of violence, protest, 22 July 2024, url
- 1717
Daily Star (The), Four more injured in clashes die in Dhaka, 26 July 2024, url
- 1718
Prothom Alo, Curfew day 2: Scattered incidents of violence, protest, 22 July 2024, url
- 1719
Le Monde, Bangladesh student group calls 48-hour halt to protests, 22 July 2024, url
- 1720
Benar News, Uneasy calm in Dhaka under curfew, police arrest hundreds for ‘violence’, 22 July 2024, url
- 1721
Prothom Alo, Area-wise block raid underway, 27 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Timeline of student protests, 4 August 2024, url
- 1722
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 46; Guardian (The), Bangladeshi students allege police torture after protests crackdown, 23 July 2024, url; Prothom Alo, Area-wise block raid underway, 27 July 2024, url
- 1723
Prothom Alo, 403 more arrested across the country, 30 July 2024, url; France24, Thousands of protesters arrested in Bangladesh amid deadly unrest, 23 July 2024, url
- 1724
Guardian (The), Bangladeshi students allege police torture after protests crackdown, 23 July 2024, url
- 1725
Prothom Alo, Area-wise block raid underway, 27 July 2024, url; Somoy TV, Steps underway to prevent anarchists from fleeing Dhaka: Biplob Kumar, 25 July 2024, url
- 1726
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 45; Prothom Alo, Area-wise block raid underway, 27 July 2024, url
- 1727
DW, Bangladesh to accept cuts to job quotas after ruling, 23 July 2024, url
- 1728
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 195; Daily Star (The), Broadband internet restored in selected areas, 24 July 2024, url
- 1729
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 195
- 1730
Al Jazeera, Bangladesh restores mobile internet after 11-day blackout to quell protests, 28 July 2024, url
- 1731
Somoy TV, Economy to continue to run over the Eid holiday: Salehuddin, 4 Juny 2024, url; Prothom Alo, Curfew extended, relaxed for Dhaka, 3 other districts, 28 July 2024, url
- 1732
Somoy TV, Curfew office time 9am-3pm on Sunday, 28 July 2024, url
- 1733
Daily Star (The), 4 organisers of quota reform demonstration reject circular, 24 July 2024, url
- 1734
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 45
- 1735
Al Jazeera, Bangladesh curfew eases: What’s opened, what’s still shut, 25 July 2024, url
- 1736
Al Jazeera, In Bangladesh, protests are no longer about the quota system, 23 July 2024, url
- 1737
BNP [X], posted on 26 July 2024, url; UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, p. 48
- 1738
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 174; AI, Bangladesh: End punitive mass arrests and arbitrary detention of student leaders and protesters, 29 July 2024, url
- 1739
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 174; DW, Bangladesh: Protest leaders held 'for their own security', 27 July 2024, url
- 1740
Daily Star (The), From ‘DB office’, 6 organisers lift protest programme, 29 July 2024, url
- 1741
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 45; See also: Daily Star (The), A chronicle of the July uprising, n.d., url
- 1742
Daily Star (The), A chronicle of the July uprising, n.d., url
- 1743
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 176
- 1744
Guardian (The), Bangladesh arrests more than 10,000 in crackdown on protests, 1 August 2024, url
- 1745
Daily Star (The), Timeline of student protests, 4 August 2024, url; BSS, Timeline of student-people's 'July uprising', 30 December 2024, url
- 1746
Prothom Alo, Students demonstrate in front of RU, 29 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, RU students block Dhaka-Rajshahi highway, 29 July 2024, url
- 1747
Prothom Alo, 15 injured in attack on protesters at Barishal Uni, demonstrations at BM College, 29 July 2024, url; Daily Observer, Students protest on road in Barishal, 29 July 2024, url
- 1748
AA, Bangladesh declares national mourning in memory of protest violence victims, 29 July 2024, url
- 1749
Prothom Alo, 15 injured in attack on protesters at Barishal Uni, demonstrations at BM College, 29 July 2024, url; Prothom Alo, Students demonstrate in front of RU, 29 July 2024, url; AA, Bangladesh declares national mourning in memory of protest violence victims, 29 July 2024, url
- 1750
Daily Observer, Students protest on road in Barishal, 29 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Timeline of student protests, 4 August 2024, url
- 1751
Daily Star (The), Timeline of student protests, 4 August 2024, url; AA, Bangladesh declares national mourning in memory of protest violence victims, 29 July 2024, url
- 1752
Prothom Alo, 15 injured in attack on protesters at Barishal Uni, demonstrations at BM College, 29 July 2024, url; New Age, 15 injured at Barishal University in alleged BCL attack, 29 July 2024, url
- 1753
Prothom Alo, 15 injured in attack on protesters at Barishal Uni, demonstrations at BM College, 29 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Quota protest: 15 injured in attack at Barishal University, 29 July 2024, url
- 1754
Daily Star (The), Quota protest: 15 injured in attack at Barishal University, 29 July 2024, url
- 1755
Prothom Alo, Cops charge baton at protestors at ECB Chattar, 20 detained from Mirpur, Dhanmandi, 29 July 2024, url
- 1756
Prothom Alo, Quota protest deaths: Countrywide mourning today, 30 July 2024, url
- 1757
Prothom Alo, Quota movement timeline: Unfolding events, 2 August 2024, url
- 1758
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 48
- 1759
Bdnews24.com, Jamaat-e-Islami faces ban in independent Bangladesh again after half a century, 1 July 2024, url; New York Times (The), After Protest Crackdown, Bangladesh Accuses Tens of Thousands of Crimes, 30 July 2024, url
- 1760
Prothom Alo, Protesters take positions at Doyel Chattar, road in front of HC, 31 July 2024, url
- 1761
Prothom Alo, Students Against Discrimination announces ‘March for Justice’ Wednesday, 30 July 2024, url
- 1762
Prothom Alo, Protesters take positions at Doyel Chattar, road in front of HC, 31 July 2024, url
- 1763
Dhaka Tribune, Nationwide ‘March for Justice’ protests escalate amid clashes and arrests, 1 August 2024, url
- 1764
Dhaka Tribune, Nationwide ‘March for Justice’ protests escalate amid clashes and arrests, 1 August 2024, url
- 1765
Prothom Alo, March for Justice: Students face police resistance, arrests across country, 31 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url
- 1766
Prothom Alo, March for Justice: Students face police resistance, arrests across country, 31 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url
- 1767
Prothom Alo, March for Justice: Students face police resistance, arrests across country, 31 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url
- 1768
Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url
- 1769
Dhaka Tribune, Nationwide ‘March for Justice’ protests escalate amid clashes and arrests, 1 August 2024, url; Prothom Alo, March for Justice: Students face police resistance, arrests across country, 31 July 2024, url
- 1770
Prothom Alo, March for Justice: Students face police resistance, arrests across country, 31 July 2024, url
- 1771
Dhaka Tribune, Nationwide ‘March for Justice’ protests escalate amid clashes and arrests, 1 August 2024, url
- 1772
Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url; Prothom Alo, March for Justice: Students face police resistance, arrests across country, 31 July 2024, url
- 1773
Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url
- 1774
Dhaka Tribune, Nationwide ‘March for Justice’ protests escalate amid clashes and arrests, 1 August 2024, url
- 1775
Dhaka Tribune, Nationwide ‘March for Justice’ protests escalate amid clashes and arrests, 1 August 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url
- 1776
Daily Star (The), Police block ‘March for Justice’, 1 August 2024, url