July 31 & 32: Hunger Strikes and a March for Memory

On July 31, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement called for a nationwide “March for Justice.” From courtrooms to campuses to city streets, people responded. The next day, they held “Remembering Our Heroes”, a day of tributes for those who had lost their lives or suffered brutal repression.

Meanwhile, six detained coordinators, Nahid Islam among them, began a hunger strike from inside the Detective Branch headquarters. They demanded unconditional release. They refused medical intervention. And they made it clear they would not be used as props.

After more than 30 hours without food or water, they were released on August 1 and handed over to their families. That same day, the government issued a formal ban on Jamaat-Shibir, part of a broader attempt to shift the narrative.

But the streets had a different rhythm. On the evening of August 1, the movement announced a new set of programs. Across mosques, temples, churches, and shrines, citizens were invited to pray. At the conclusion of Friday prayers, mass rallies were held.

The message, now, was not just political. It was moral. The struggle was not only for policy or party. It was for the memory of those who had fallen. And for the dignity of those who remained.