8 July 2024: ‘Students Against Discrimination’ launched amidst nationwide blockades
The Students Against Discrimination (SAD) platform was officially formed, announcing a 65-member coordination team to address quota discrimination and seek a lasting resolution.
Protests escalated across Bangladesh, marked by blockades in 11 locations, demonstrations at 9 universities, and disruptions to railway services in 3 areas. Additionally, 6 major highways were obstructed, effectively disconnecting Dhaka from various parts of the country and causing significant suffering to inter-district passengers.
Within Dhaka, the ordeal began around 3:30 PM when hundreds of students, demanding quota reforms, launched their "Bangla Blockade" programme from Shahbagh. Major intersections from Shahbagh to Farmgate, including Banglamotor, were paralysed for several hours.
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The government will decide what course this protest takes.
The blockades extended to key areas such as the Science Lab intersection, Chankharpool, areas adjacent to Dhaka University, and in front of other educational institutions. This created a ripple effect, leading to severe traffic congestion at Tantibazar, Ray Saheb Bazar, Bangshal, Gulistan, Purana Paltan, Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Agargaon, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Mirpur-10, and New Market.
By 6:00 PM, the gridlock had spread further to Mohakhali, Banani, and Uttara, with long lines of private cars, buses, and CNG-run auto-rickshaws stretching for miles. The students even blocked the Farmgate ramp of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. The suffering intensified after office hours, forcing many commuters to walk to their destinations.
Vehicular movement gradually resumed in Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, and Bangla Motor areas around 7:45 PM. The protesters finally lifted the blockade at Shahbagh around 8:35 PM, concluding nearly four hours of widespread disruption.
Nahid Islam, a key member of the coordination committee, clearly articulated the movement's sole demand: the enactment of a law in parliament to abolish all illogical and discriminatory quotas in public service, retaining only a minimal quota for disadvantaged groups as mandated by the constitution. Islam underscored that this demand falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the executive branch and the government, not the courts.
He stated, "We have given our one-point demand, where the court has no jurisdiction. It is only the responsibility of the executive branch and the government to do this. As a result, the ball is now in the government's court." Demonstrators remained steadfast in their singular demand for complete elimination of all illogical and discriminatory quotas in public service through legislative act.
