July 14–15, 2024: PM’s Speech Ignite a Storm

On July 14, the sitting Prime Minister made a deeply divisive comment: “If the grandchildren of freedom fighters are not eligible, should the grandchildren of collaborators get the jobs instead?”

Her words sparked outrage. That very night, students across Dhaka University emerged from their dormitories in spontaneous protest. They marched to the Raju Sculpture, their anger resolute and restrained.

The next day, July 15, the government’s response turned violent. In broad daylight, student protesters were attacked on campus by members of the ruling party’s student wing. Many were injured. Even women students were beaten and humiliated. The violence marked a turning point. The movement was no longer just about policy. It had become a moral reckoning.