It was the first day of the curfew, enforced under the Special Powers Act, with troops deployed across the nation. The internet had already gone dark the day before, and now the streets emptied. The AL's desperation had entered a new phase — of overt military suppression. Yet, even under the weight of army boots and information blackout, resistance refused to die.
Cities under siege
Despite the oppressive measures, violence broke out across the capital, most notably in Jatrabari, Uttara, Badda, Mirpur, and Mohammadpur. At least 37 people were killed over the day — lives lost in the crossfire of a regime clinging to control.
Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram, and Sylhet erupted in unrest as well.
The disappearances begin
As darkness fell on a country already in chaos, news emerged that key student leaders had vanished. Nahid Islam, a prominent figure in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, had reportedly been taken by plainclothes men, presumed to be members of the Detective Branch. His family, desperate, searched the DB and CID offices but were turned away without explanation.
By evening, more leaders were missing: Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, and Hasib al-Islam, all coordinators of the ongoing protests.
They were reportedly picked up by unidentified men and taken away in a car. Nahid's father, Badrul Islam, later told the press that Sarjis had called him and said they had reached home, though their earlier detention remained unexplained.
Behind closed doors
On the same day, Sarjis, Hasnat, and Hasib were taken to a meeting with two ministers and a state minister -- the law minister, education minister, and state minister for information. Reports indicate that during or after the meeting, a set of eight demands was presented as if it came from the movement..
Unbending resistance
But according to a voice message sent to the media by Abdul Kader, another key coordinator, the government had fabricated this set of demands:
"Some of our coordinators are being held in government custody and forced to deliver scripted statements. Our original nine-point demand must be implemented. Until then, the complete shutdown will continue."
Meanwhile, the then state minister for information, Mohammad Ali Arafat, claimed that the reports of a nine-point list were "rumours being spread by certain quarters".
Yet, in a message sent to the press and signed by 62 of the 65 official student coordinators, the protest leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the movement.
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