Red July: The political awakening of our urban middle class

For a long time, the urban middle class had been accused of reclusivity from the repression and the suffering under the Awami League regime. And justifiably so; in the past 15 years, they kept their eyes shut, taking notice only when the Road Safety Movement was crushed with utmost brutality. 

But the July Uprising touched everyone. 

Families that had never discussed politics over dinner now tuned into livestreams and protest updates. The middle-class silence was finally broken. 

July 2024 could have been the month I almost lost my school-going sister, who narrowly survived police firings on the streets of Mirpur. And this story is true for almost everyone else in this city — such was the scale of active participation. 

"The urban middle class are the last ones to join any movement. However, their association to any movement is highly crucial, as the movement gets a creative expression then. Then they can spread the message to a larger demographic through their substantial social capital. For the last 15 years, we have not seen the urban middle class engage in any movement, but the July Uprising brought them to the streets."

- Dr Samina Luthfa, Professor of Sociology, University of Dhaka

Now, after a year, how has the July Uprising changed our urban middle class? 

Nafiz Bashar Alif, a student of Dhaka University who was injured during the July Uprising, spoke about how the uprising changed his outlook on politics.  

"I come from a very political family, but I chose to stay away from it. All I saw was a vicious cycle, revenge dressed as leadership, power struggles that left people behind, and good people burning out in a broken system. I didn't want to be part of that game. 

"But July changed something in me. For once, I saw politics without the filters, not through TV talk shows or party banners, but raw and unfiltered on the streets. I saw students carrying other students to safety. I saw strangers putting their bodies between police batons and people they had not met until that moment. First aid booths were run by volunteers who didn't ask who you were, just whether you were okay. There were no party flags. Only courage. Only solidarity," he recounted. 

Today, he continues to engage in various social movements and activism. He thinks the uprising allowed him to look at society through a different lens. 

"I realised, politics isn't just for politicians. It's for anyone who refuses to accept injustice as normal. I never imagined I could be useful in this space. But July taught me that you don't need a title or a banner to make an impact. You just need to care, and to act when it matters most," Nafiz added. 

Khandakar Ejajul Islam, an MBBS student who organised protests in both Dhaka and Chandpur, was inspired to join the movement after witnessing the brutality of Chhatra League.  

"I was part of the quota reform movement from the very beginning. To be more specific, after the Chhatra League's attack on students at Dhaka University, I could no longer remain silent. I began pressuring the entire medical community to initiate the movement," he said. 

July taught Ejajul how to question. "Now, I question the BNP. I question the NCP every single day. My lifestyle has changed, I am more concerned about the country now. Before July, I used to be a romantic guy, looking at the world with rose-tinted glasses. Now, I demand answers from the people running the country," he added. 

The shift is not just in action but in perception too. People who once thought politics was beneath them now saw it as inseparable from their daily survival. The fear that kept them compliant gave way to a deeper fear — one of losing their voice, their dignity and their future.

Ibtesham Doha, a telecommunications expert and comedian, was an active protester during the July Uprising, braving death and violence. He thinks that July Uprising has given him and others like him a new meaning for life. 

"Honestly, during the past regimes, we lived life on autopilot — accepting all the wrongs nonchalantly. But when things went out of hand during the July Uprising, something woke up inside me. I couldn't keep answering to myself with excuses anymore. Being politically awake means strongly condemning what's wrong and standing up for yourself. It's a realisation, a chance to change things, no matter what uncertainty waits. Wrong is always wrong," he said.

Dr Samina Luthfa, a professor of sociology at the University of Dhaka, tried to explain this phenomenon. 

"The urban middle class are the last ones to join any movement. However, their association to any movement is highly crucial, as the movement gets a creative expression then. Then they can spread the message to a larger demographic through their substantial social capital," she said. 

"For the last 15 years, we have not seen the urban middle class engage in any movement, but the July Uprising brought them to the streets, especially the youths. They have gained a significant sense of duty towards the society and the country," Dr Luthfa added.  

Seeing a powerful tyrant like Sheikh Hasina flee in the face of popular resistance has opened up a window of opportunity for creating a new country for the people, she said. 

Anupam Debashis Roy, a doctoral researcher at the Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, thinks that the urban middle class is not apolitical in its truest sense. They did not react before because it did not clash with their interests. What July Uprising did is that it transcended the interests and stirred the emotions of this social group. 

"July Uprising has made people believe that they too have a stake in politics, because they have shed blood for it. So, they are engaged in politics more, even if it means sharing a meme or liking political posts. And if the reform process is detached from the people, they may feel the need to come out to the streets again," he added. 

Among the urban youth who joined active partisan politics post-uprising is Syeda Nilima Dola. She joined the newly-formed National Citizens' Party (NCP). She has been an artist and independent social activist before. 

"After the uprising, I felt like my duty was not over yet," she said. "July taught me more about my obligation towards my society and country. Yes, I am struggling a bit to fit in, but I have to carry on to honour the martyrs. I need to do a lot to rebuild the country through my skills and resilience," she said. 

But Dr Samina Luthfa noted that a section of the youth may yet return to their old indifference. 

"The interim government and the political parties should facilitate these youths for the betterment of the country and its politics," she added.