Dhaka: As intermittent but steady rain drenched Dhaka on Friday (August 2), tens of thousands of people marched through the downpour, creating a surreal scene.
From university professors in sarees to college students in hijabs and bearded madrasa students to elderly men in their seventies, people of all backgrounds filled the streets of Dhaka in various locations.
In the morning, a gathering took place in front of Abahani Field in Dhanmondi, where numerous artists and singers assembled with colourful banners and festoons.
As the drizzle turned into heavy rain, residents from nearby areas joined in and the roar of the crowd continued to build.
A small police contingent was stationed on either side of Satmasjid Road, equipped with shields, sticks and even guns. However, their body language suggested a mix of relaxation and resignation.
A police contingent moves in the Dhaka University area. Photo: Faisal Mahmud.
They did not obstruct protesters in any way.
For about half an hour before a large procession began marching towards Dhanmondi’s end at Road no. 27, slogans like “Ek dofa ek dabi, Hasina tui kobe jabi” (‘we have one demand; when will you resign, Hasina?) and “Shoirachar nipat jak, gonotontro mukti pak” (‘Autocrats must go, long live democracy’) filled the air.
The march concluded before Jummah prayers, but the enthusiastic protesters planned to join a larger demonstration at the Press Club in the capital at 3 pm.
The call to Friday’s Jummah prayer echoed through the Dhanmondi neighbourhood. Despite the persistent rain and a sombre atmosphere, there was a noticeable excitement among the crowd.
“We will definitely go there,” said Khadiza Afrin, a schoolteacher who participated in the protest at Abahani Field. “I can’t stay at home and do nothing. Every time I see photos or videos of police brutality against students, I end up in tears.”
Khadiza’s sentiments were shared by many others. Tonmoy Ahmed, a former journalist-turned-entrepreneur, expressed his frustration. “Did you see how they killed those young students? Did you see how our silence has created a monstrous government?”
“We need to change that,” he added.
Students paint graffiti in the Dhaka University area. Photo: Faisal Mahmud.
Unwavering spirit
After the Jummah prayer, people took to the streets in Dhaka once again.
At the Science Laboratory intersection and under a heavy security presence, a massive crowd gathered. Armed with banners, festoons and an unyielding spirit, they chanted slogans demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.
The police, while cautious, remained largely passive and somewhat bewildered.
Groups of protesters began making their way to the Press Club, located about four kilometres from the Science Lab intersection, continuing their chants for Hasina’s resignation.
At the Press Club, the crowd was dispersed and lacked central organisation. The police courteously requested that the busy thoroughfare be cleared, and the people complied, moving on to central Shaheed Minar.
A procession at Shaheed Minar. Photo: Faisal Mahmud.
A large contingent of police began moving along with the protesters as well.
Confusion arose among the crowd as they debated where to protest – the largest demonstration was at Shaheed Minar, while another was at Shahbagh intersection, known for being the site of some of the biggest mass protests during Hasina’s rule over the past fifteen years, including this student-led one for the government job’s quota reform.
After the deaths of over 200 people, most of whom were students and commoners, this protest however has transcended the issue of quota reform or specific demands, now focusing solely on one clear demand: the government’s resignation.
“The government has to go,” declared Sabiha Nahla, a recent university graduate. “It has lost its legitimacy.”
At Shaheed Minar, a nearly surreal scene was unfolding.
The monument, built to honour the martyrs of the 1952 language movement, is considered by historians as a catalyst for Bangladesh’s eventual independence from Pakistan.
“For protesting against an autocrat, you couldn’t find a more fitting place,” said one protester who wished to remain anonymous.
Protestors hold up a banner at Shahbagh. Photo: Faisal Mahmud.
Like in other places, there was no central protest. Instead, various groups formed their own clusters, each with their own slogans and displays of discontent.
Despite the fragmentation, the message was unmistakable: they no longer wanted this government.
The crowd was predominantly from the urban middle class, evident from their attire, measured speech and the array of private cars parked nearby.
A university professor, who wished to remain anonymous, came from the affluent Gulshan neighborhood with her husband and a friend. She couldn’t recall the last time she had been so engaged in politics or state affairs.
“Our students, other people’s children were killed, and the government responded with utter indifference,” she said. “This can’t continue.”
Faisal Mahmud is an award-winning journalist. He is the recipient of the Jefferson Fellowship and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung fellowship.
