19 July 2024, Protesters clashed with police in Uttara Azampur, capital. Photo: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

DHAKA, July 18, 2025 (BSS) - The government imposed a nationwide curfew at midnight past on July 19 last year in face of student-people's stiff resistance as at least 67 people were killed across the country that day during the student-led 'complete shutdown' demanding quota reform in government jobs.

The government announced the deployment of army following a meeting of the then ruling Awami League (AL) led alliance at Ganabhaban with now ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair as the casualties were in rising trend following three-way clashes between police accompanied by AL supporters and the protesters.

After the meeting, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader told newsmen that the law enforcers would follow the 'shot-at-sight' policy during the curfew. 

According to a Dhaka based English daily -The New Age- at least 67 people were killed across the country on July 19 taking the death toll to at least 112 since July 16 following three-way clashes between law enforcers and AL activists, and quota reform protesters.

On July 19, 2024, the students under the banner of anti-discrimination student movement were observing their pre-declared 'complete shutdown' for the second consecutive day, protesting the killings during the movement in previous days and demanding quota reform in government jobs.

On the day, activists of BNP and its associate bodies also joined the movement with the student protesters.

But law enforcers accompanied by activists of Awami League and its associate bodies allegedly launched assaults on the protesters across the country, leaving at least 62 deaths in the capital on that day alone, the New Age reported.

 At least five deaths were reported outside Dhaka, including two in Rangpur and one each in Savar, Sylhet and Narsingdi.

However, a Bangla daily- Dainik Samakal- reported that at least 12 people were killed outside the capital-Dhaka that included five in Rangpur, one each in Savar, Gazipur, Bogura, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Madaripur.

Besides, more than 2,000 people were injured across the country on the day.

Hospitals were overwhelmed with gunshot victims and medical staff were struggling to cope with the influx while the government was accused of ordering the hospital authorities not to give treatment to the people injured in the movement, according to July Uprising victims' families.

However, the aggrieved people set fire to several government establishments including the BRTA building and the PBI offices in the city.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) banned motorcycle movement across the capital showing security reasons and imposed a ban on holding any rally or meeting across the city except in front the central offices of AL and BNP.

Earlier on the day, students resumed their 'complete shutdown' on July 19 (Friday) morning amid the nationwide internet service suspension while clashes broke out between students and members of the police and Awami League supporters in the city's Rampura and Jatrabari areas around 11am.

The conflict later spread to several parts of the capital, including Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Badda, Rampura, Jatrabari, Uttara and Mohakhali. Additional clashes erupted due to simultaneous rallies organized by the BNP and the Awami League in various parts of Dhaka. Major confrontations were seen around the Press Club and Paltan areas.

Outside Dhaka, widespread violence was reported during the shutdown in Khulna (Shibbari), Mymensingh, Narsingdi, Chattogram, Rangpur, Manikganj, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, and Gazipur.

In Narsingdi, amid the chaos, a group of people stormed the district jail and freed inmates by taking prison guards and officials hostage.
Throughout the day, numerous government establishments were vandalized and torched while Rampura Police Station, Rampura police outpost and five other police boxes between Mirpur-10 and Purabi came under attacks.

The BRTA headquarters in Banani, the Metro-1 office in Mirpur and the old building of the Directorate General of Health Services in Mohakhali were also vandalized and set ablaze. Several vehicles at the Mirpur BRTA office were torched.

The Kazipara metro station in Dhaka was vandalized on July 19 while the authorities suspended the metro services for an indefinite period. On that day, the whole capital city turned into a battlefield, paralyzing city life. Long-distance bus services were halted while several international flights were also canceled. All rail connections between Dhaka and the rest of the country were suspended.

University authorities across the country announced suspension of all exams until July 24.

Meanwhile, the parents stood in solidarity with their protesting children on the streets. Under the banner "Sontaner Pashe Ovibhabok (Parents beside their Children)", guardians formed a human chain at Shahbagh in the city on the same day.

Besides, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reaffirmed his party's full support for the quota reform movement. Besides, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was arrested from in front of the Jatiya Press Club while trying to hold a rally expressing solidarity to the quota reform protest. 

Eyewitnesses and protesters alleged that Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) fired bullets from helicopters to disperse the demonstrators that killed many people in Rampura-Badda and Jatrabari areas. However, the RAB later denied the accusation.

After visiting some spots in the city, BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui had warned that those exploiting the student movement for destructive activities would be dealt with iron hand.

Besides, the government was on the one hand calling the quota reform protesters for dialogue over the issue and on the other hand the ruling party leaders and law enforcers continued assaulting the protesters along with threatening to resist the protesters harshly.

On July 19, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader at a rally called for nationwide unity to resist the "so-called anarchy of BNP-Jamaat."

Thus, the students rejected the government's renewed call for dialogue rather they placed a nine-point demand before the government and vowed to continue the 'complete shutdown' until their demand is met.

The nine-points included:

1. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must publicly apologize to the nation for the deaths of students.

2. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and Law Minister Anisul Haque should resign from their positions for their roles in the violence.

3. The DIG, Police Commissioner, and Superintendent of Police, including those in Dhaka, should be dismissed.

4. The VCs and proctors of Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, and Rajshahi University must resign.

5. Policemen who fired on students, and terrorists from Chhatra League-Jubo League responsible for the attacks, should be arrested and charged with murder.

6. Families of all martyred and injured students and citizens should be given compensation.

7. All party-based student politics, including the Chhatra League, should be banned, and student councils should be implemented in educational institutions.

8. All educational institutions and residence halls should be opened immediately.

9. And students involved in the quota movement should be guaranteed freedom from any form of academic or administrative harassment.

However, amid a nationwide mass arrest, especially students and political opponents during those days of movement, Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, was detained at midnight on July 19 and taken to an unknown place.

Besides, the government suspended broadband internet services from 9pm on the day paralyzing all digital services including online news portals.