The anti-discrimination student movement in Bangladesh has announced a “March to Dhaka” today to demand the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. The Daily Star reported that the movement’s leaders, Asif Mahmud, Sarjis Alam, and Abu Baker Majumder, have called on students and citizens nationwide to join the march. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the march was rescheduled for Monday in response to the deaths of numerous people and the current political situation.
On August 3, the organisers of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement declared their single-point demand for Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and that of her cabinet members. This announcement was made by Nahid Islam, a key organiser, during a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar. The demand for resignation comes after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited the protesting students to discuss their grievances at Gono Bhaban in an attempt to end the violence associated with the quota reform protests. “Doors of Gono Bhaban are open. I want to sit with the agitating students and listen to them. I want no conflict,” she stated during a meeting with central leaders of the Peshajibi Somonnoy Parishad (Professionals Coordination Council) at Gono Bhaban on Saturday.
Sheikh Hasina also instructed the authorities to release detained students and assured that trials would be conducted for each death resulting from the anti-quota protests. “Trial of each of the killings must be held,” she emphasized, reiterating her willingness to hold talks with the agitators and their guardians at any time. Furthermore, she announced the cancellation of the proposed universal pension scheme “Prottoy” for universities and state-owned organisations in an attempt to address the protesters’ concerns.
The deepening crisis has led to the government announcing a three-day shutdown of public and private offices, including banks. Meanwhile, students have organized today’s long march, which could potentially clash with pro-government groups. The Daily Star reported that the new wave of protests is focused solely on the demand for the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet members. Additionally, the protesters have initiated a non-cooperation campaign, urging citizens not to pay taxes and migrant workers to avoid remitting money home through banking systems.
The latest wave of violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 93 people, with thousands more injured, many by gunfire, according to The Daily Star on Monday. On the first day of the student-led non-cooperation campaign, anti-government protesters clashed with police in at least 20 districts, maintaining pressure on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down. Over the past three weeks, the anti-government rallies have claimed 300 lives, marking this period as one of the bloodiest in Bangladesh’s civil movement history.
The situation in Bangladesh has grown increasingly tense as members of the ruling Awami League have taken to the streets to suppress the anti-government demonstrations, exacerbating the violence. The protests initially erupted over demands to reform the quota system, which reserves civil service jobs for specific groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans. The unrest intensified when students opposed a new policy allocating government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters. This policy led to violent clashes, including attacks on state television headquarters and police booths in Dhaka.
As the “March to Dhaka” unfolds, the anti-discrimination student movement continues to gain momentum, with students and citizens rallying against the current government. The persistent unrest underscores the deep-seated dissatisfaction with the quota system and the broader political landscape in Bangladesh. As the nation watches, the outcome of today’s march and the government’s response could significantly impact the country’s future political trajectory.