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Recalling July: How DB forced coordinators to call off protests
Published : Tuesday, 28 July, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Observer Online Report
July 28, 2024. Detective Branch (DB) of police held six key coordinators of the July Mass Uprising under custody and made them read out a statement calling of the ongoing protest. However, two of the coordinators who remained in hiding; Abdul Kader and Hanna Masud, claimed the statement was forcibly extracted under torture.
The fascist government on this day relaxed the ongoing curfew for 11 hours to ease public panic, while continuing nationwide block raids.
According to the then autocratic AL regime, 147 were killed in violence across the country, from July 17 to July 28. When open-fire failed to suppress the mass uproar, the government adopted alternative tactics.
Sheikh Hasina summoned family members of 34 who were brutally killed by the police force in 10 days span over the quota reform movement to the Gono-bhaban.
Among them, family of Abu Sayeed was present. He was an English department student at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur.
Sheikh Hasina handed over savings certificates and cash as financial assistance to the deceased's families. At the time, Sheikh Hasina warned that "playing games with Bangladesh would not be allowed repeatedly."
As the coordinators were still held in DB custody for two days, social media platforms were flooded with DB Harun’s ‘Bhater Hotel (Rice Hotel)’ which fueled public sentiment in favor of the student protest.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated in a release that over 9,000 party leaders and activists had been arrested nationwide. He protested the torture of sick senior BNP leaders, including former ministers and MPs, who were placed on five to seven days of remand like banned terrorists.
Awallying Leaders appeared largely relieved on this day during the July Uprising. Awami League General Secretary Obaydul Kader alleged that a plot was underway to occupy the Gono Bhaban ‘Sri Lanka-style’ under the guise of the quota movement, while also making allegations of domestic and international conspiracies against Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Following 10 days of violence, three then-ministers separately presented figures detailing the extent of the damage. Presenting casualty statistics at a press conference at the Secretariat, then-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal claimed law enforcement agencies were compelled to open fire to protect life and property.
Meanwhile, then-Minister Tajul Islam claimed the violence was aimed at setting the country back economically.
Believing everything was brought under control after 10 days of violent unrest, mobile internet services were restored at 3:00PM on this day after remaining shut down.
Despite various tactics, the autocratic government failed to conceal the public rage generated by the indiscriminate firing on students and citizens. The movement to overthrow the fascist regime gained further momentum with the active participation of people from all walks of life.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
