By Mahamudur Rahman Najid

DHAKA, July 28, 2025 (BSS) - Nishita Zaman Niha, a student at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (2020-21 session) of Dhaka University, emerged as one of the most prominent voices during the July Uprising, playing a pivotal role in steering the student movement.

Niha resides at the Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall of Dhaka University. She serves as a student representative on the university’s Women's Reform Commission and holds the position of Joint Convener of the Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Council.

Hailing from Kalaiya, Satkhira, her father Mohammad Moniruzzaman is a businessman and her mother Afroza Zaman is a housewife.

The values of progressivism and social awareness in her family sparked her sense of activism and confidence in leadership.

In a recent interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), she shared her experience, memory of participation and expectations from the July uprising.

In a firm tone, she explained her role in the July uprising, saying, "July taught me how to stand tall with my head held high, not merely through protest, but by showing the way forward. July has turned into a symbol of collective conscience that must be protected.

BSS: It’s been one year since the July Uprising. Do you still feel the emotions from those struggle-filled days?

Nishita Zaman Niha: I can never forget the days of the July movement because what happened during the protests was not only a tough time for my life but also for my country. I still can’t forget the lives lost during the protests and the many who lost their eyes, limbs or had severe injuries. Their faces haunt me and their cries echo in my ears.

Even after one year, I feel our expectations have not been fully met. Despite one July leading to another, the changes we hoped for didn’t materialize. We had dreamed of a new Bangladesh, but those dreams remain unfulfilled, which is quite disappointing.

BSS: How did you get involved in student politics?

Nishita Zaman Niha: I joined student politics right from my first year on campus. My first activism was in the ‘Safe Roads Movement.’ Before that, I had participated in various political workshops and seminars. I was also among the first members of our study circle.

BSS: How did you get involved in the quota reform movement?

Nishita Zaman Niha: The quota movement started at our Central Library when a massive procession took place. After that, a Facebook group was created called ‘We Do Not Want the Quota Reinstated,’ and I was made an admin of that group. 

From there, I got involved in the quota movement, and later, I was part of the coordination committee in two different committees.

BSS: What role did you play as a central coordinator in the movement?

Nishita Zaman Niha: My main responsibility was to bring together the female students from my hall and lead them in the protests. Initially, the girls were not very supportive, but after a certain point, they joined us more actively. 

At first, I created a Messenger group with five halls’ girls, where we would decide when and how to gather and join the protest. Before heading to the protest, we would call everyone by banging pots and pans, and then we would all go to the Central Library together. I was in charge of the decision-making for the female students.

BSS: How active were the students from your hall in the movement?

Nishita Zaman Niha: Compared to previous movements, the participation of girls in this movement was significantly higher. Many girls from my hall, despite being busy with other responsibilities, would join us. Some would come after finishing their tuition, others after completing their work. 

They joined us because the cause was deeply connected to our lives. From the very beginning, the participation of girls was high.

BSS: Did you protest on the night of July 14 when Hasina labeled students as 'Rajakars'?

Nishita Zaman Niha: After the Prime Minister's speech, there was an uproar as people questioned how she, as Prime Minister, could make such a statement. That evening, a slogan was raised in the boys' halls, “Tumi Ke, Ami Ke, Razakar! Razakar! Ke Boleche, Ke Boleche, Shoirachar, Shoirachar”. 

We thought we could protest from that place. We started by shouting slogans in the hall and soon, more girls came down and joined us. Then we broke the lock on the main gate of the hall and marched to Raju Sculpture.

BSS: After the July 14 night march, were you afraid the Chhatra League might attack?

Nishita Zaman Niha: Yes, after the march on July 14, rumors started circulating that Chhatra League might attack us at any moment. When we went on the march, we saw some Chhatra League outsiders stationed in our campus. We could sense that they might attack us.

 There were also many law enforcement officers deployed at different points on the campus. The following day, we heard that members of the Chhatra League had thrown hot water at the girls from Eden College, which deeply saddened us.

When we went to Eden College to help, we found that the students from Dhaka College had assisted in rescuing them. Such incidents were heartbreaking. 

Later, on our campus, BCL attacked us, injuring one of our hallmates severely. I still feel responsible for her as I went to check on her, and she told me her hand is still not functioning properly. She can’t even write properly during exams.

BSS: After the halls were closed on July 17, you were all separated, but how did you reunite for the movement?

Nishita Zaman Niha: We used to consider our hall a safe haven, but when we were told that the gas, water and electricity would be cut off and anything could happen, many girls became scared and started crying. 

Afterward, everyone went home, as we couldn’t do anything when the hall authorities and house tutors said such things. We continued to discuss our options on our Messenger group.

BSS: How did you coordinate with other coordinators during the movement?

Nishita Zaman Niha: We maintained regular communication with other coordinators as long as the campus was open. After the campus was closed, our phones were under surveillance, so communicating became very risky. However, Nahid Islam bhai contacted me through a different phone to check on me and the others.

BSS: During the internet shutdown, how did you manage communication?

Nishita Zaman Niha: I was at my village home and we managed to communicate a bit through mobile. Some people used button phones to stay in touch. There was no other way to communicate.

BSS: Did you or your family face any personal threats during that time?

Nishita Zaman Niha: Before the campus closure, a BCL leader gathered all my information from a debating club member. After I returned to my village, I received some threats from local Chhatra League and Awami League members. The local police had my information, and they were tasked with investigating me. 

Then the police came to my house to inquire about my activities. They told me that they were keeping an eye on me and my family. They warned me that if I continued with my activities, I would face consequences.

BSS: How was the support of teachers during the movement?

Nishita Zaman Niha: Initially, I didn’t see much involvement from the teachers. However, when we were attacked, a couple of teachers called to check on me. Later, when the halls were closed, one teacher offered me a place to stay if I had trouble finding accommodation.

On the night of July 15, we submitted a letter to the hall provost demanding that our hall be free from political influence.

BSS: How did you first know that Hasina had fled and what was your reaction?

Nishita Zaman Niha: I first saw the news on Facebook and later on TV. When I learned that Sheikh Hasina had fled, I thought, "Okay, now we can live freely." But it was heartbreaking that she fled the country safely after causing the loss of so many lives.

BSS: What role do you envision for women in shaping the politics of the new Bangladesh?

Nishita Zaman Niha: The July movement inspired many women to enter politics, but as time passed, cyber bullying and threats against women activists have increased. Especially, I would say cyber bullying has become rampant, which is demotivating. 

The defeated forces fear the role of women in politics, and they are trying to hold women back. Many of the women I know have been victims of cyber bullying at some point.

My advice to political parties is to provide a platform for women entering politics and assure them of their safety. There should also be a hotline for reporting harassment and a women’s help desk at police stations. The direct involvement of women in elections is crucial for empowering women and making their voices heard in political discourse.

If I talk about my expectations, many of them have not been fulfilled yet. Although the interim government is working, the changes we anticipated have not materialized to the extent we hoped.