Unyielding in the face of fascism
Abu Jakir :
On this day last year, 22-year-old Abu Sayeed, a student of English at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, etched his name into history.
Facing riot police armed with shotguns during a student demonstration for justice and equality, he stood firm with his arms outstretched – a silent gesture of defiance – moments before he was fatally shot in broad daylight.
Abu Sayeed died where he stood, his final moments captured on video that shocked the nation. His death on 16 July 2024 marked a turning point in Bangladesh’s student uprising against discrimination, transforming the protest over quota reform into a broader movement against authoritarianism and state repression.
A year later, Sayeed’s name continues to resonate. His portrait is carried in marches, his courageous stand etched in the memory of a generation determined not to forget.
The country will observe national mourning this Wednesday, marking ‘July Martyrs’ Day.’ A circular signed by Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rasheed, issued on the President’s orders, directs that the national flag be flown at half-mast at all government offices, semi-government bodies, autonomous institutions, educational establishments, and Bangladeshi missions abroad.
Special prayers will be held across mosques and other religious institutions to honour the memory of the martyrs.
On 16 July 2024, Bangladesh was plunged into unrest as students protested violent attacks by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) – then the student wing of the ruling Awami League – against demonstrators.
What began as opposition to the reinstatement of the quota system escalated into widespread clashes involving police and political activists.
In Rangpur, where Abu Sayeed played a key role as a protest coordinator, police forces joined the crackdown. Amnesty International later reported excessive use of force, including live ammunition.
Witnesses recall how Sayeed sought to calm tensions near the university gates but faced the armed police without fear, spreading his arms wide before being shot.
Abu Sayeed was among at least six people killed that day, including a hawker and other civilians in Dhaka and Chattogram. Violent confrontations erupted in cities across the country, with students blocking highways and rail lines, effectively paralyzing key transport routes.
In response, the government deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops to six districts, indefinitely closed educational institutions, suspended Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, and ordered students out of dormitories amid threats of arrest.
The University Grants Commission enforced a complete shutdown of public and private universities, while the Attorney General’s office appealed a High Court ruling on quota reform.
Following Sayeed’s death, tens of thousands took to the streets, holding candlelight vigils in cities nationwide. His defiant image became a symbol of resistance.
Civil society groups and international organisations condemned the violence. Prominent citizens expressed solidarity, and some BCL leaders publicly resigned in protest against the brutality.
Opposition figures called for political unity in support of the students, while the Awami League sought to confront the movement politically – but the momentum had shifted irreversibly.
Today, the site where Abu Sayeed was killed has become a shrine. Students gather to light candles, leave flowers, and renew their commitment to justice. His family, though grieving, remains proud and calls for accountability.
“Sayeed’s sacrifice awakened the nation’s conscience,” said his sister at a memorial event.
What began as a dispute over public service quotas has evolved into a broader struggle for rights and justice.
Abu Sayeed, once a modest student passionate about poetry and politics, is now remembered as a reluctant martyr whose final act of bravery – standing unarmed and fearless – embodies hope and resistance.