Amid intense resistance led by students, the Awami League regime on this day last year issued a gazette reforming quota in government jobs.
As per the gazette, 93% of the recruitments would be based on merit while 5% would be reserved for freedom fighters' descendants, and 1% each for ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and hijra.
The provision would be applicable to all government, semi-government, autonomous, and statutory bodies across all grades.
Despite the strategic bait to quell protests, leaders of the Students Against Discrimination at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity issued an ultimatum for the government to meet their four-point demand in 48 hours.
The demands included restoring internet access, lifting the curfew, removing law enforcement from campuses, reopening dormitories, and ensuring safety of the movement coordinators.
Sarjis Alam said these steps would pave the way for dialogue over their eight-point demand.
At the same event, it was revealed that Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Abu Baker Mojumdar, and Rifat Rashid had been missing since July 18. Asif's father, Billal Hossain, said his son had been abducted.
Meanwhile, a separate faction of the Students Against Discrimination announced a nationwide demonstration, urging the public to wear black masks and push for a nine-point demand. One of the demands was that Sheikh Hasina, then prime minister, apologise for the deaths of protesters. Another demand was the resignation of key ministers of the regime.
The then education minister, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, ruled out the demand to reopen residential halls. Additionally, internet services were partially restored in Dhaka and Chattogram on July 23, following a six-day blackout.
However, the crackdown by law enforcement agencies became rampant. Between the night of July 22 and the afternoon of July 23, some 1,100 people were arrested—517 in Dhaka alone—bringing the total nationwide arrests since July 17 to over 3,000.
Thirty-eight new cases were filed in Dhaka that day.
RAB chief Md Harun-Ar-Rashid warned of strict legal action against those involved in violence.
It was the fourth day of a nationwide curfew.
The government announced that on July 24, offices would reopen for four hours and export-oriented garment factories could resume operations.
Oil-carrying trains also resumed operations on 23 July.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus urged global leaders and the UN to act against violence targeting protesters. The Sampadak Parishad and Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) also called for impartial investigations into the killings and destruction.
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