July Uprising. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, July 22, 2025 (BSS) - The movement leaders were resolute in their 4-point demand as the government was compelled to issue a gazette notification on quota reform on July 23 last year amid stiff student resistance.

The government issued circular keeping provision of 93 percent recruitment on merit in government services and five percent for freedom fighters' descendants, one percent for ethnic minorities and one percent for persons with disabilities and third-gender.

According to the circular, the provision will be applied to all recruitments from the 9th grade to the 20th grade at government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, statutory bodies and different corporations.

But the anti-discrimination student movement leaders reiterated their four-point demands at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) with a 48-hour ultimatum, saying that it will facilitate the way for dialogue with the government over their pre-declared "eight-point" demand.

The four-point demands included the full restoration of internet access nationwide, the immediate withdrawal of the curfew, removal of law enforcement personnel from educational institutions and reopening of all residential halls to create a safe and conducive environment for academic activities, and ensuring safety and security for all coordinators of the quota reform movement across the country.

Sarjis Alam, a key coordinator of the quota reform movement, presented the demands at the press conference and said the fulfillment of these demands would open the door for dialogue with the government.

At the press conference, it was also revealed that three movement leaders Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Abu Baker Mojumdar and Rifat Rashid remained missing since July 18.

Nahid Islam, also a key-coordinator of the movement, and Asif's father, Md Billal Hossain, were also present there.

Md Billal Hossain claimed his son, Asif, was out of reach since July 18. After searching Asif at different hospitals, he claimed at the conference that his son was forcefully disappeared.

Besides, another faction of the quota reform movement declared to carry out a public outreach campaign and hold protest programmes wearing black cloth on mouths across the country to press home their nine-point demand including the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's public apology to the nation for the deaths during the movement.

Meanwhile, the then Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury at a press conference ruled out the possibility of reopening residential halls until the safety of students is guaranteed.

However, limited broadband internet services were restored late at night on July 23 in the capital Dhaka and Chattogram after six days of nationwide internet blackout.

But the law enforcement agencies continued "combing operations" to arrest the demonstrators on charge of carrying out vandalism, arson attacks and violence during the quota reform movement.

According to media reports, about 1,100 people were arrested between July 22 night and July 23 afternoon.

According to a leading Bangla daily- Prothom Alo- at least 517 were arrested from the capital city Dhaka alone. With this, the number of arrestees from July 17 to July 23 crossed 3,000 across the country.

Besides, on July 23, 38 new cases were filed in Dhaka in connection with the violence during the movement.

Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Md Harun-Ar-Rashid, said that those who carried out subversive activities in the guise of student protests would face strict legal action. He warned that no leniency would be shown toward perpetrators.

The then Law Minister Anisul Huq, however, had said that if students involved in the movement were falsely accused of cases, the government would thoroughly review the evidence provided by the movement's coordinators.

On July 23, which was earlier declared a public holiday, the nationwide curfew continued for the fourth consecutive day. As the overall situation was getting improved, the government decided to further ease curfew restrictions.

The government declared that on July 24, all government and private offices would remain open for four hours from 11am to 3pm while export-oriented garment factories would also be allowed to resume operations.

Earlier, over the past week, the quota reform movement triggered widespread protests and clashes across the country. In response, the government deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) alongside regular law enforcement to maintain control.

But when the situation went out of control, the government imposed the curfew at midnight on July 19 to contain the movement, deploying army personnel in aid to civil administration.

On July 23, however, oil-carrying trains resumed operation after nearly five days of suspension, marking the first movement in the rail sector since the unrest began.

On the day, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, now Chief Adviser of the interim government, in a statement called upon the international leaders to be active along with the United Nations (UN) to stop violence against the quota reform protesters.

The Sampadak Parishad (editors' council) and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) also issued a statement on the same day seeking impartial investigation into the incidents of killings and destructive activities.