5 August 2024, how was that day?

Many refuse to call that date 5th August rather, it is famously known as the 36th of July, the day when Bangladesh was freed from the grasp of dictatorship and a fascist government.

That day is still clear as crystal in the memories of the people of this country, especially the students.

It all had begun from a basic demand of decreasing percentage of quotas in government university admissions and in government jobs.

But that small flare later sparked such a fire which burnt down a whole system which was built and managed over a span of 16 years, it forced the biggest political party of the nation, Awami League to bend its knee. It toppled the government.

This movement again proved that no government and no power can suppress the voice of the mass. It proved that the power of a nation lies within the hands of its people. It showed that no one or no group is eternal, it set an example that even the most powerful will fall and the unthinkable can become reality.

During those last and uncertain few hours before the govt. fell, no one knew what would happen, there was a sensation of fear amongst all, but so was the determination and will power to overcome that fear for the sake of the country and its people. Because, everyone knew that if the students gave up and the protest failed then there would be a massacre and mass target killings would take place.

The beginning of the end

To describe that day, we will have to start from the infamous, 4th August.

After Police and Awami Leagues student wing or it can be called the criminal wing, BSL (Bangladesh Students League) opened fire on the protesting students at 4th August, the demand was clear that Sheikh Hasina needs to step down and face justice for her acts against humanity. Before this day the demands of the movement did not include resignation of the Prime Minister but when Police and BSL opened fire and shot down several students the demands changed, from nine-point movement it turned into a one-point movement of removing Sheikh Hasina from power.

Police and BSL tried with all their force and kept on attacking the protestors, tear shells and rubber bullets were fired, though it had become normal at that point as students got used to those during the span of this movement. But things got really heated and frightening when the law enforcement officials started using actual bullets against their own people who were armed with only sticks and bricks.

The day before

The whole day of 4th August was chaotic, death news of students and protesters was coming in from all corners of the nation. Every hour the death toll was rising yet the protesters didn’t fall back, the students who used to hangout all day, who used to not think about the country, who used to avoid slightest violence, those students didn’t move, they stood and faced the bullets, they stood with no fear in their eyes, they stood with a goal in their mind to free the country from the grasp of a dictator, they stood for the rights and freedom of 180 Million countrymen.

That day the students won against armed enemies with sheer will power and bravery. They stopped at nothing, they kept moving forward with a will in their heart, a dream of reforming this country and to have a country where discrimination will not prevail, where the general mass can leave peacefully and have equal rights. Where merit, skill and one’s capability will be the major qualities that will matter in case of admission, jobs and any other field, where nepotism and lobbying will no longer exist, where the deserving one will get what he deserves without any especial recommendation or bribe.

On 4th August, streets were filled with blood and the whole nation had turned into a battle field, the war against system, against government was at its peak. And by the end of the day, the nation was shaken by the actions that were taken by the government and it’s hit squads (Police and BSL) against the unarmed students who were protesting.

Announcement of the Long March

That night the leaders of the movement Nahid, Hasnat, Sarjis, Asif and others announced that after the devastating attacks on students, the movement was no longer for equal rights or quota reform, the movement was now for the freedom of the people of this country, the motive of the movement had now become to take Sheikh Hasina and Awami League down and bring justice to the one’s who had lost their lives during the protest.  

After the massacre and horrific attacks on students on 4th August, the leaders of the movement announced that the sole demand of this movement from then on was to make Sheikh Hasina resign from her post. And long march to Parliament building was announced to take place on 5th August.

That night after the announcement was spread nationwide, everyone felt a sense of fear, not knowing what might happen. Deep inside all were prepared to face the worst because the scenes of 4th August indicated that Sheikh Hasina would stop at nothing to hold her power and position.

A Night full of fear and uncertainty

The night of 5th August was a sleepless night for almost everyone who were taking part in the movement. A generation of students whose dreams were to move abroad, who never thought or cared about country and who didn’t know what patriotism is, they could not sleep that night because they were worried, they were concerned about their nation, they were praying for the safety of their fellow brothers and sisters, because they wanted to build a better nation.

Everyone was thinking what might happen in the morning, what fate lies ahead. The students who were far from religious practices, they prayed that night for the victory and safety of their brothers and sisters. Social media was stacked with thousands of statuses, all stating almost the same concerns, what will happen in the morning, many statuses motivated the protesting students by showing support and giving them courage through words. Many statuses included cautions and instructions for the protesting students as Army and other Law enforcement officials were deployed and at that point anything could happen.

Before this night no one had seen so much concern in this generation of students regarding people they had never seen or spoke to. No one knew till that point that these students could become patriots, that they would ever become so rest less to see the betterment of the nation and to ensure safety of its people. Perhaps that was one of the longest nights.

The morning of 36th July

At dawn, no one could stay at home, students along with general public got out of their residences and started to gather at several points in Dhaka. People and protesters from other cities travelled to the capital to face whatever the consequences would be.

Many were uncertain if they would return, many were prepared to bleed, to die that day. It will be a lie if anyone says they were not afraid, but each and every person overcame their fear and were prepared to face the worst. Before stepping out of their houses, many had bid farewell to their families, many had texted their last message to their loved ones. But yet they didn’t stay home, they marched on to the roads of the capital with a heart full of courage and determination to free the nation.

At first the protesters started to gather at pre-determined points, but Army and Law enforcement officials had blocked many routes and were not letting anyone pass. They forcefully stopped many from reaching their destination.

But this day was not like any other ordinary days, this day was different. This day, no one was going to stop no matter what the obstacles might be. Despite the blockade set by Army and Law enforcement officials, people kept moving forward, if they were stopped or held while using the main roads, they took alternative routes to reach their destination but they didn’t stop, they didn’t give up.

And people in massive numbers started to show up in different points of the capital including TSC round about and Shohid Minar. People also gathered in Mohammadpur and Mirpur. At around 10 AM everyone suspected for the worse, everyone thought that Army might open fire at the protesters. Why?

Because armed tanks and war vehicles were present around the main gathering points and at around 10 or 10.30 AM, those vehicles along with foot soldiers started to set a parameter around the protesters making it seem like they were trapping the ones who gathered to march towards the Parliament building.

Every person had fear in their hearts because at that point, Sheikh Hasina could do anything as she had crossed all limits. No one knew how Army would react and what action they will take against their own people because during the period of the movement people had already seen the cruelty and inhuman steps that were already taken, and it would not be a surprise if Army would fire automatic guns at the mass. 

Yet, the people of this country were ready to march towards the Parliament Building no matter what, they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the cause, they were adamant to take down the fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina.

But what happened afterwards shocked everyone and it took out Sheikh Hasina and her regime within a few hours.

A new Sunrise

Army opposed against the orders of Sheikh Hasina to fire at the general mass. They denied direct orders of the PM and stood by the side of their countrymen.

At 3.00 PM the Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman stood in front of the nation and stated that Sheikh Hasina had resigned from her post and Awami League govt. had fallen. He also mentioned that Bangladesh Army will always stand by the general mass of this nation and can never take arms against their own people.

But the people who had arrived from around the nation and gathered in several points of the capital, had already started their march towards the Parliament Building before General Waker-Uz-Zaman had passed his message to the nation. People were determined to throw Hasina out from the Parliament and remove her from power.

The streets were filled with joy, happiness and tears upon getting the message from the Chief of Army Staff.

Many students lost their lives and became martyrs during this war against the regime of a fascist government, students like Abu Syed, Mir Mugdho had set examples of courage and humanity by laying down their lives for the greater benefit of the nation. But their fellow comrades and protesters didn’t shed tears over them during that time as the job was still not done.

And when the announcement came that Hasina had resigned, that is the day when everyone mourned for their lost friends, for the martyrs. At the first moments the atmosphere became heavy with the mourning and tears; after fighting this war for more than 20 days the students were finally able to show their pain and grief, they remembered their brothers and sisters who were lost in this movement. They didn’t express until the greater cause was acquired but they did cry and they cried their hearts out after the announcement of the fall of Awami League government.

People were moved by the sacrifices made by the students and that forced them to come to the streets and unite for the cause which would make a new sun shine in the sky of this nation.

Streets of joy

After the fall of Awami government, sweets were distributed throughout the march to Parliament Building, not only sweets people were treating anyone and everyone with anything they could buy.

It was a celebration of the general people of Bangladesh, everyone was happy, even the Army officials were smiling and took part in the celebration. People were thanking Army officials for their decision and many were giving flowers to the officials who were present at the streets.

People were referring the students as the Freedom Fighters of 24, they were showing their respect for the students and giving salutes to everyone who were wearing a student ID.

That day people of every religion, every background, every age, every gender and every sector had united as one to stand against the injustice that was happening for the last 16 years. People came to the streets where students had shed their blood for a greater cause. The nation was moved and motivated by the sacrifices made by the students. And when the mass of this nation stood up as one, when they decided to go on to the streets, when they decided to stand against injustice despite their fears, when they decided that enough is enough, that is when they toppled a government which had been running the country for 16 years, who everyone thought was invincible.

Reason behind the victory

5th August, 2024 the day when Bangladesh and its people regained their freedom, regained their dignity and became a nation where freedom of speech prevailed again, where people could have and share their opinion, where the general mass held the power, where law enforcement officials and law makers served its people rather than any political leader. This is the day when a new sun rose in the sky of Bangladesh. The day when Bangladesh was reborn from the ashes and like a Phoenix it shone brighter than ever.

5th August, the day when no one was a Hindu, or a Muslim, or a Buddhist, or a Christian, or a Chakma, or a Garo, everyone was Bangladeshi, and all of them only had one thing in common, their nation. The people of Bangladesh regained their freedom and the nation regained its independence only because all the people of Bangladesh, the general mass had fought that day as one, that is the strength of unity, even in 1971 this nation could achieve the impossible feat of winning the Liberation War was because even then the people of this nation had fought as one against a common enemy.

United you stand, divided you fall

Unity and people of all the religion living in Harmony, that’s the culture of Bangladesh. This nation was always a land where people of multiple cultures and religions lived in peace and without conflict. And during these hard times the people must remember their roots, they should remember how this nation has always sheltered people from any cast or religion without any discrimination.

The fight should never be against each other, it’s shouldn’t be against any specific religion, it needs to be against those who spread terrorism, who instigates it, who wants to divide in the name of religion and cast, it should be against those who want to suppress and terrorize the general mass for their self-benefit.

The mass cannot forget 5th August, they should not let down the martyrs of 24 and let the sacrifice of thousands go in vain. They must remember how they had broken the shackles, because if the people of Bangladesh forget these, then they won’t be able to protect what they have achieved at the cost of so many lives. And if the people of Bangladesh fail this time, then the nation will fall.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect TheReport.live’s editorial stance. The author is a journalist.