On this day last year, the second day of the complete shutdown declared by students, protesters issued a bold nine-point demand that gave the movement its clearest outline yet.
The country was under the grip of an internet blackout imposed by the Awami League (AL) regime.
As violence swept through cities and towns, blood mixed with dust on the streets. In response to the fierce resistance from students and the general public, the government announced a nationwide curfew beginning from midnight. That day saw at least 67 people killed across the country amid escalating violence.
Following a meeting at the Ganabhaban chaired by the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the AL and its ally parties decided to deploy the army to quell the unrest. After the meeting, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced that law enforcement would "shoot-at-sight" during curfew hours.
A nation in revolt
Throughout the day, violence and unrest spread to several major cities as the nationwide shutdown entered its second day. In Dhaka, streets turned into battlegrounds with clashes between students, residents, and security forces becoming increasingly violent. In Jatrabari, protesters kept the Dhaka-Chattogram highway blocked for the third consecutive day, cutting off the major transport artery. Meanwhile, in Gazipur, tensions escalated when former mayor Jahangir Alam arrived with supporters to confront demonstrators, resulting in violent clashes and casualties.
In Narsingdi, amid the chaos, a group of people stormed the prison and freed inmates by taking the prison guards and officials hostage.
Numerous government establishments were vandalised and torched. Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro stations, BRTA headquarters in Banani, the old building of the Directorate General of Health Services in Mohakhali, among other facilities, were either vandalised or set on fire.
The 9-point demand: A manifesto in the fire
That night, around 9:30pm, one of the core coordinators of the student movement, Abdul Kader, issued a nine-point demand to national media. The nine points included:
● Prime minister Sheikh Hasina must apologise to the nation for the deaths of students.
● Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and Anisul Haque should resign from their ministry for their roles in the violence.
● The DIG, police commissioner, and superintendent of police, including those in Dhaka, should be dismissed.
● The VCs and proctors of Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, and Rajshahi University must resign.
● Policemen who fired on students, and terrorists from Chhatra League-Jubo League responsible for the attacks, should be arrested and charged with murder.
● Compensation should be given to the Families of all martyred and injured students and citizens.
● Party-based student politics, including that of the Chhatra League, should be banned, and student councils should be formed in educational institutions.
● All educational institutions and dormitories should be reopened immediately.
● And students involved in the quota-reform movement should be guaranteed freedom from any form of academic or administrative harassment.
Disappearances and repression
Just hours after the demands were made public, student leaders Asif Mahmud, Abu Baker Mojumdar, and Rifat Rashid were reported missing.
Families and fellow organisers claimed that the three were likely abducted by security agencies. Their whereabouts remained unknown until the following morning, causing even more public outrage.
Despite the large number of casualties and the abduction of the student leader, the protest was only getting stronger and stronger.
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