News Flash
DHAKA, Aug 3, 2025 (BSS) - Ant-discrimination movement
leaders on August 4 last year declared 'March to Dhaka'
programme for next day (August 5), signalling the ouster of the
Hasina-led government as at least 93 people were also
killed that day during the student-led non-cooperation
movement.
The anti-discrimination student movement leaders had actually
declared the 'March to Dhaka' programme for August 6 in the
afternoon on August 4 to press home their one-point demand -
the resignation of the Hasina-led government.
But the joint crackdown of the then ruling party activists and
police on the protesters during the student-led non-cooperation
movement across the country that day prompted the movement
leaders to reschedule programme for August 5 by bringing back
one day.
Addressing the protesters in the capital's Shahbagh around
3pm, Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the movement, had said
that Awami League was trying to drive the country into a state
of civil war by deploying its activists on the roads.
"Our objectives, goals and destination are clear. Victory alone
is our goal. We are still giving time. If the government continues
to resort to violence, we want to let them know that we are
looking at the Gono Bhaban," Nahid was quoted in a Daily Star
report as saying.
"If my brothers are shot in the chest, if any of my sisters are
injured, we will not sit idle. Form up a Protirodh Sangram
Committee (resistance struggle committee) in every
neighbourhood, village, mohalla, and alley. Form up resistance
wherever (we are) attacked," added Nahid, a former adviser of
the current interim government and now NCP chief.
He urged students to continue their sit-in at Shahbagh until the
government falls.
Besides, the demonstrators brought out a procession with the
bodies of victims from Dhaka Medical College Hospital around
6pm. After a brief protest there, they headed towards
Shahbagh through Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre.
During the procession, they chanted slogans: "Amar Bhai Morlo
Keno, Sheikh Hasina Jobab Chai", "Lorai, Lorai, Lorai Chai,
Lorai Kore Bachte Chai", and "Dofa Ek Dabi Ek, Sheikh Hasinar
Padatyag".
However, when the procession was crossing the Shahbagh
Police Station, police lobbed stun grenades and teargas shells
to disperse the demonstrators, claiming that some protesters
threw brickbats at the police station.
Earlier, on August 3, the anti-discrimination movement leaders
declared the 15-points non-cooperation movement from August
4 to press their one point demand- the resignation of the Sheikh
Hasina-led government.
According to a Dhaka based English daily, the Daily Star, the
day (August 4) began with an eerie calm, but it turned violent
after supporters of the ruling Awami League descended on the
streets to subdue the anti-government protest.
The daily star reported that at least 93 people were killed
across the country that day as ruling party activists and police
clashed with anti-government protesters in at least 20 districts
on the first day of the student-led non-cooperation movement.
In the capital, at least 12 people were killed. Most of them were
brought dead to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
With the country already on the boil, homes of some ruling
party lawmakers, Awami League offices, police stations, law-
enforcement vehicles and prison vans were vandalized
throughout the day while the government tightened the
nationwide curfew and blocked 4G mobile internet to contain
the unrest.
The government, however, declared a three-day public holiday
across the country starting from August 5.
According to another English daily- the New Age- at least 93
people were killed on August 4 across the country, taking the total
death toll to 311 during the quota reform movement since July 16.
On August 4, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life,
including students, parents, teachers, day labourers, social
workers, and other professional bodies, took to the streets in
most of the places in Dhaka city, including Shahbagh, Science
Laboratory, Jatrabari, Mohakhali, Dhanmondi-27, Mirpur-10,
Uttara, Rampura, and Badda.
According to media reports, three-way clashes erupted
between the protesters and the then ruling party activists along
with law enforcers in different places in the capital including
Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, Science Laboratory,
Mirpur, Jatrabri, and Mohamadpur.
Besides, Chhatra League activists allegedly attacked protesters
in Shahbagh, triggering a chase and counter-chase while the
ruling party activists took shelter inside the now Bangladesh
Medical University (the then Sheikh Mujib Medical University).
At that time, at least 24 vehicles were set on fire.
Meanwhile, the Mirpur-10 intersection had turned into a hotspot
as protesters arrived in droves. AL men, some of them with
firearms, had occupied the area, backed by police. Numerous
gunshots rang out, sending panic through the area.
Outside Dhaka, at least eight people were killed in Lakshmipur,
six in Narsingdi, eight in Feni, four in Rangpur, five in Bogura and four in
Sylhet, three in Pabna, three in Munshiganj, four in Magura,
three in Kishoreganj and three people were killed in Cumilla in
three way clashes between now banned Awami League supporters and
police, and protesters.
Besides, more than thousands people, including at least 172 in
Chattogram, were injured across the country in clashes
between protesters and police and AL activists while the
number of deaths is assumed to be higher than the country's
media outlets could cover the news.
Amid nationwide unrest, on August 4, the deposed home
ministry declared that the curfew would continue for an
indefinite period in Dhaka, all divisional cities, district towns,
upazila headquarters, city corporation areas, municipalities,
and industrial areas, starting at 6pm that day.
But, according to media reports, protesters continued
demonstrations in Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna,
Barishal, Cumilla, Lakshimipur, Munshiganj, Pabna, Sirajganj,
Feni, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Joypurhat, and Bhola even after
curfew hours started on August 4.
Earlier, the government imposed a curfew for an indefinite
period past midnight on July 19, which was relaxed from time to
time.
On the same day, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)
issued a statement condemning "the unlawful use of lethal
weapons and the disproportionate use of force by law
enforcement agencies".
Noting that the entirely peaceful, non-violent and apolitical anti-
discrimination student movement has been pushed to imposed
violence, the organization demanded exemplary accountability
of those responsible for ordering and approving that
unprecedented brutality.
According to the Daily Star, the Bangladesh University
Teachers Network on August 4 proposed an outline to form an
interim government consisting of teachers, judges, lawyers, and
civil society stakeholders, based on the opinions of civil and
political forces for a democratic transition.
Former Jahangirnagar University (JU) teacher Professor Anu
Muhammad placed the proposal at a press briefing held at the
Sagar-Runi Auditorium at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the city.
According to their proposal, the protesting students would play
a key role in the election of members of that government, and
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government would resign to
that interim government.
On the same day, The High Court (HC) dismissed a writ
petition that sought an end to shooting at protesters, saying that
the law enforcement agencies can use force if necessary while
on duty.
