Motherland or Death

Bunches of historic events occurred throughout the country from July 15 to August 5. As painful as those events might be yet they were the main steps that paved the way for our motherland "Bangladesh" being second time independent from the hands of heartless autocrat ruler. The date August 5, 2024, will always stay in the hearts of every Bangladeshi.

Things escalated on July 15 when on a press conference, Sheikh Hasina in response to a question mentioned the students who were protesting for fair merit-based selection system as "Rajakar". Aftermaths of the press conference was the eruption of student protestors taking Dhaka University area chanting the slogan "Tumi ke? Ami ke? Rajakar Rajakar!". Students were protesting peacefully. 

But things really went on the next level when a bunch of goons of the student wing of "Bangladesh Awami League" (the chatro league) attacked the innocent unarmed students indiscriminately leaving them with deep injuries. They also attacked on the sleeping students at Jahangirnagar University at night. They injured many students, threatened many more not to go against the government. The scenes at Jahangirnagar University were like war was going on there. 

That's when the student's community felt "Enough is ENOUGH!". Students from nearby areas went to Dhaka University area to face off the goons of chatro League. They were forced to get out of the area and for some time the DU area became free from the goons. Our BRAC University students were also on the streets doing peaceful protest in front of the campus on July 16th. It was a huge gathering of the students from BRACU. 

There is a proverb, "Every good thing doesn't last long". On July 18, police attacked in front of our university forcing the protesting students to retreat inside the campus. The police even fired tear shells and rubber bullets at the unarmed students. In the following days to come it was the police who were so much brutal to the innocent public. They consciously killed thousands of innocent people.

On July 18, many students were injured due to the rubber bullets being fired at them Infront of BRACU. The injured people were not even allowed to go to the hospital. The police were not letting ambulance to get inside the campus. At afternoon when our brothers from NSU, EWU, UIU and other private universities marched towards our campus, the police fled and finally somehow the injured people were taken to the hospital. It was a horrifying day for all around the country.

On the same day, the autocrat government enforced curfew in the whole country to control the ongoing unstable situation. Internet was kept down. Finally, after someday, the court agreed on the demand of the students. The total quota was down to 5%. But that was just to make the erupted students calm. 

Within someday the curfew was lift off partially. But then police started mass arrests. The police at different points started checking the phone of any people that looked like a "student". If they found any posts or pictures related to the movement, the police arrested the students declaring them as terrorist who spread violence during the movement. Any famous personality who attended the movement were also arrested.

Raiding houses also started along with the mass arrests. People lived in fear just like fled criminals do. They captured students and filed them under different false cases as their wish. But this move fired back on the party when they arrested the coordinators of the movement. That's when people again took the streets.

Different programs were declared area wise, like graffiti movement, walking with red cloth on eyes and mouth and many more. Eventually the government were forced to enforce the curfew again, but it was of no use now. The public knew that it was a "Do or Die" situation.

Finally, the date August 5, "Long March to Dhaka" was declared. People from the whole country started towards "The Gonobhaban". The demand was one which was out casting the ruling party. Ex PM Sheikh Hasina had to resign as the defense force couldn't hold the public anymore. Soon the news spread out that Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. 

People in groups started gathering to enjoy the victory. It was only possible because the whole Bangladeshi people stood as one body one mind. The leaders were the students, and the follower was the whole country. Finally, after 15 years the autocrat fascist regime ended resulting second independence of our country.