For the last 61 days, the entire country was in turmoil due to the mass movement of students over quota reforms in government jobs. The ruling party Awami League used the Chhatra League and law and order forces to stop the movement of students. Since 2008, Sheikh Hasina’s government has lost people’s trust by killing, anarchy and looting for more than 15 consecutive years.
Sheikh Hasina left the country on Monday afternoon in the face of the long-running agitation over the quota reform. Awami League leaders and activists have been in danger since his resignation. Rumors of change of power began.
In the course of events of 61 days, the day that happened-
June 5, Wednesday: The High Court declared the decision to cancel the quota invalid.
June 6, Thursday: Students protest against the court verdict canceling the quota.
June 9, Sunday: The state filed an application seeking suspension of the High Court’s verdict.
July 1, Monday: A mass movement of students begins under the banner of anti-discrimination student movement. Protests took place in Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, Jagannath, Chittagong and Rajshahi universities. A three-day program was announced to demand the abolition of quotas in jobs.
July 7, Sunday: ‘Bangla Blockade’ program is observed across the country. The capital came to a standstill in massive protests. It was announced that the ‘Bangla Blockade’ program would be held the next day as well.
July 9, Tuesday: Anti-discrimination student movement announces morning-evening blockade blockade program at important road and railway points across the country. Two students through lawyers appealed against the verdict upholding the quota.
Wednesday, July 10: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court orders a four-week stay on the High Court’s order reinstating quotas, fixing the next hearing date for August 7.
July 14, Sunday: The full judgment of the High Court was released ordering the reinstatement of the quota. Students protest at night due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s use of the word ‘Rajakar’ in a press conference.
July 15, Monday: Government supporters including Chhatra League attacked protesters on Dhaka University campus.
July 16, Tuesday: Leave to appeal filed in Appellate Division. Road blockades, widespread violence broke out across the country and six people lost their lives. University student Abu Saeed killed in police ‘shooting’ video released in Rangpur.
Later came the announcement of closure of all educational institutions and closure of college-university halls across the country.
July 17, Wednesday: BCL leaders were thrown out of the halls of various universities including Dhaka University the previous night and the rooms were vandalized. Agitators clashed with the police while performing funeral prayers at Dhaka University.
Private universities were the center of protest on this day. Prime Minister addressed the nation in the evening. He called for patience till the verdict of the Supreme Court.
At night, the conflict started in Jatrabari area. The toll plaza of Mayor Hanif flyover was set on fire at Jatrabari.
July 18, Thursday: Violence continues in the movement. Police cordoned off Merul Badda, later rescued by helicopter. BTV building set on fire. Attack, vandalism, arson on various government buildings including bridge buildings, disaster management buildings.
Protesters including students were killed in the clashes between the protesters and the police. Awami League’s proposal of 20 percent quota instead of 56 percent.
The law minister said that the government is willing to negotiate with the agitators. The proposal for discussion is the platform of students protesting against discrimination. Internet connection stopped from 9 pm.
July 19, Friday: Massive clashes in different parts of the country including Dhaka, the situation came to a standstill. Vandalism and arson in various government buildings including metro rail station, elevated expressway toll plaza, Mirpur indoor stadium.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi arrested. Due to the internet connection being down, there is a standstill in all areas. Curfew is imposed from 12 pm. At least 56 people were killed in clashes across the country.
The anti-discrimination student movement announced the continuation of the shutdown with 9-point demands including a ‘public apology’ from the Prime Minister, the resignation of two ministers.
The three leaders of the agitators sat in a meeting with the three ministers at the State Guest House Padma. Anti-discrimination student movement coordinator Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah and co-coordinator Hasib Al Islam presented 8-point demands there.
On behalf of the government, Law Minister Anisul Haque, Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury and State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Arafat were present in the meeting.
July 20, Saturday: Despite the curfew, protesters clashed with law enforcement in various places including Dhaka, Savar, Gazipur, Mymensingh. Many protesters were injured.
The meeting of the three coordinators of the quota reform movement with the Law Minister, the Education Minister and the Minister of State for Information. Eight-point demand of the protestors. Disagreement between coordinators over this meeting.
At least 26 people were killed in the violence in Dhaka and Narayanganj.
July 21, Sunday: Appellate Division hearing on quota, High Court’s verdict on quota reinstatement annulled. Order to set merit 93 percent, freedom fighter quota 5 percent, minority quota 1 percent, disabled and third gender quota 1 percent. However, if the government wants, there is an opportunity to change.
Curfew continues, all autonomous, government, private institutions, financial institutions including banks, garment factories are closed under general holidays.
July 22, Monday: Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the quota movement, announced the suspension of the complete shutdown for 48 hours. During this period, they gave an ultimatum to the government to see the implementation of the four-point demand.
The announcement of the extension of the general holiday till Tuesday came. Curfew was also extended on this day.
At least 131 people were killed in four days due to the violence of the quota reform movement in the media. More than five hundred people were arrested.
July 23, Tuesday: Limited broadband internet service resumes at night on a priority basis. The next night, Broadband Internet service was activated in homes across the country.
July 24, Wednesday: Offices open after a three-day general holiday by executive order. Due to the extension of the curfew relaxation time, office activities are conducted from 11 am to 3 am.
July 26, Friday: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits Dhaka Medical College Hospital to see the injured and Bangladesh Television to see the devastation.
Accusing them of distorting the statement, he said, “They identified themselves as Razakars, I did not call them Razakars.”
The three coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud and Abu Bakr Majumdar, were taken into custody by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi. The Home Minister said that they were not detained. Taken into custody for safety.
July 27, Saturday: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Pungu Hospital to see the injured. Highlighting the violence of BNP, Jamaat-Shibir, he said, this destruction is to paralyze the country’s economy.
July 28, Sunday: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met the families of some of the victims, including student Abu Saeed, who was killed in the quota reform movement at Ganabhaban. He went to Rajarbag police hospital to see the injured.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal gave the information of 147 deaths due to violence around the movement. Although according to the media, the number is more than two hundred.
After 10 days mobile internet is back today.
July 29, Monday: 14-party alliance meets to ban Jamaat-Shibir politics for terrorist activities. Awami League President, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
Clashes took place in different parts of the country around the program of the anti-discrimination student movement.
July 30, Tuesday: Mourning is observed across the country in memory of those killed in the violence surrounding the quota movement. Rejecting that program, the anti-discrimination student movement called for making Facebook profiles red and posting pictures with black cloths over their eyes.
July 31, Wednesday: ‘March for Justice’ program to demand justice for the killings in the movement. There were conflicts in different parts of the country around the program. Clashes broke out around the protest in the Supreme Court premises, the march of teachers and students of Dhaka University.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants the cooperation of international organizations for a fair investigation. The United Nations is also interested in sending a fact-finding team.
August 1, Thursday: 6 coordinators of the anti-discrimination movement were released from the DB office. A program titled ‘Remembering Our Heroes’ was held in memory of the martyrs. Conflict in Comilla, Narayanganj and Barisal.
The government issued a notification banning Jamaat-Shibir and its affiliates for terrorist activities in the quota movement.
August 2, Friday: Clashes in mass procession, 2 dead including police reported.
August 3, Saturday: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the door of Ganobhaban is open for the protesting students. The agitators rejected that call.
A round of demands for the downfall of the government came from the huge gathering at the central Shahid Minar.
Although the environment of Dhaka is mostly peaceful, there are incidents of attacks, vandalism and clashes in at least 11 districts. At least one person was killed.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that he will resign if the Prime Minister wants. Students’ movement is no longer ‘apolitical’. If attacked, his ‘answer’ will be given in self-defense.
August 4, Sunday: The ruling Awami League announced to enter the field on the first day of the non-cooperation movement. Over hundreds of people lost their lives in massive clashes across the country. Among the dead are at least 14 policemen and 19 leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliates.
The anti-discrimination student movement announced the ‘March to Dhaka’ program on Monday amid a massive gathering in Shahbagh.
A circular from the Prime Minister’s Office said, “All students and parents are requested to return home safely. Terrorist attacks are happening in different places. Strict action will be taken against the militant attackers.”
August 5, Monday: A large number of students marched towards Dhaka to participate in the ‘March to Dhaka’ program called by the anti-discrimination student movement.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left for India. There are reports that he has sought political asylum in the UK.
Army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said that an interim government will be formed to run the country.
On the way to Dhaka, there is a joyous procession on this day. The crowd took possession of the Ganobhaban, took away various things. Police stations were attacked in various police stations, Bangabandhu Bhavan, Awami League office and many leaders’ houses were attacked.
In the evening, the President held a meeting with various political parties including BNP, Jamaat at Bangabhaban. Sahabuddin. Later he said that the interim government will be elected as soon as possible. According to the law, the current parliament will be dissolved.
President on Tuesday. Sahabuddin announced the dissolution of parliament.