On August 3, 2024, the Central Shaheed Minar became the epicentre of what many are calling a turning point in Bangladesh's political history.
The Central Shaheed Minar and its surrounding streets transformed into a sea of defiance as thousands of people gathered, united under a single demand: the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet. What began as a student-led anti-discrimination movement surged into a full-fledged national uprising, igniting passionate protests and political confrontations across the country.
The mass congregation that shook the regime
Despite the monsoon rain, people from all walks of life, students, professionals, retired army officers, and ordinary citizens, flocked to the Shaheed Minar with national flags, placards, and slogans. As the crowd swelled, spilling into the Doyel Chattar, Dhaka Medical College, Shibbari intersection, and Jagannath Hall, the air pulsed with a singular chant: "Dofa Ek, Dabi Ek, Sheikh Hasinar Podotyag" ("One point, one demand—the resignation of Sheikh Hasina").
At around 5 pm, Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the movement, took the stage. He replaced the previous nine-point demand with a new single-point demand: the resignation of the government. To press this demand, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement would launch a full-scale non-cooperation movement starting August 4.
The message was clear: the students were no longer asking, they were declaring. The country was no longer pleading; it was rising.
Earlier that day, Sheikh Hasina said, "The door of Ganabhaban is open. I want to sit with the agitating students of the movement and listen to them. I want no conflict."
The students rejected her call for discussion. It was clear after the announcement of the one-point demand that they were demanding not only the resignation of Sheikh Hasina but also the entire cabinet. They also demanded bringing Sheikh Hasina to trial for all the killings and abductions during the movement.
At the mass congregation, Nahid also urged the people to join their pre-declared all-out non-cooperation movement from August 4.
Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, another key movement leader, presented the 15-point strategy to cripple the functioning of the state, symbolically and practically.
Press, army, and the people
The media, often seen as an institutional bystander in recent years, came alive. Members of BFUJ and DUJ marched in solidarity, demanding justice for four journalists reportedly killed during the quota reform unrest.
While law enforcement largely refrained from suppressing the day's mobilisations in Dhaka, the role of the army became a focus of public attention.
On the same day, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, speaking at the Helmet Auditorium in Dhaka's army headquarters, emphasised the army's duty to safeguard lives, property, and key state institutions. He reaffirmed the army's commitment to standing with the people and urged officers to stay vigilant against social media rumours while carrying out their duties with integrity and dedication.
Symbolic end to a historic day
As night fell, the protesters blindfolded the Raju Memorial Sculpture with red cloth—a chilling yet powerful metaphor for the nation's pain and mourning. Shahbagh intersection, a historical hub of political resistance, was blocked once again, reminding the country of its recurring cycles of protest.
August 3 was not just a date on the calendar; it was a declaration. It was the day a student-led reform movement transcended its original goals and morphed into a national demand for democratic restructuring. Whether this movement will sustain its momentum or be stifled by state resistance remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Bangladesh heard a roar that cannot be easily silenced.
"We will build a system where no form of autocracy can ever rise again," said Nahid Islam from the podium. The echoes of that promise now reverberate far beyond the Shaheed Minar.
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