Thousands of Bangladeshis took to the streets in Dhaka on Tuesday, joining a “March for Unity” to mark the student-led uprising that led to the ousting of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina five months ago. The rally also honored the more than 1,000 lives lost in the violence during the unrest.
The protest was organized by the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group, which initially planned to call for changes to the country’s 1972 constitution. However, the group backed down after the interim government announced plans on Monday to prepare a proclamation.
SAD argued that a ‘Proclamation of the July Revolution’ was crucial to honor the sacrifices of the protesters who were killed or wounded, as well as to reflect the people’s aspirations. Some political analysts, however, warned that such changes could trigger instability if implemented without broader consensus.
The press office of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who leads the interim government, announced that it would seek national consensus on a “Declaration of the July Uprising.” This declaration would focus on unity, state reform, and the broader objectives of the uprising, with hopes that it would be finalized soon.
Student groups from across the country and families of those killed in the protests joined the rally, carrying national flags and chanting slogans against Hasina. “My son Shahriar, a ninth-grade student, was killed during the protests,” said Abul Hasan at the rally. “Our tears will never stop, this pain will never end.”
The protests originally stemmed from opposition to public sector job quotas but quickly expanded into a nationwide uprising against Hasina’s government. The unrest reached its peak on August 5, forcing Hasina to resign and flee to India, just as protesters stormed her official residence. Over 1,000 people died during the protests, marking the deadliest period in Bangladesh since its 1971 independence war.
An interim government was formed to restore stability and oversee elections, which are expected to take place by the end of 2025. The interim administration includes two student representatives.
