July 31, 2024: ‘March for Justice’

July 31, 2024. The movement was not limited to quota reform at that time. The ‘March for Justice’ began on this day to demand an answer to why blood was shed. Lawyers from all over the country also joined the movement with the students by breaking the curfew. Teachers and students began gathering at Doel Chattar around 12 noon on the 31st to join the ‘March for Justice’ program. The youth of BUET also joined the movement. Ignoring the police barricades, the stream of people started moving towards the High Court. Several people were detained during this time. Meanwhile, responding to the call of the students, the lawyers’ ‘March for Justice’ also started at the High Court premises. When they wanted to take out the procession, there was a scuffle with the police. By then, the students also came and joined the lawyers. On this day, the nation saw the unwavering support of the lawyers for the students. They held themselves hostage and demanded the release of the students. The shackles of curfew were being broken all over the country. Students, teachers, lawyers and people from different classes and professions from all over the country took to the streets. In Chittagong, a movement was held in the court premises with the help of lawyers. The situation was the same in Rajshahi, Khulna, Dinajpur, Mymensingh, Tangail and other places across the country that day. No eye-rolling worked that day. Meanwhile, the hearing of the writ seeking instructions not to shoot at the students during the protests was strategically avoided. It was said that a judge of the High Court bench was ill, so the hearing would not take place. On the other hand, Obaidul Quader, understanding the situation, was trying to unite the current and former Chhatra League leaders. However, the chess pieces turned upside down, he had to be harassed by the former leaders of his own party. The former minister somehow left the scene in the face of the ‘false voices’ of the former leaders. On that day, DB Harun was transferred from the Intelligence Department and given the responsibility of additional commissioner of DMP. And from that day on, the responsibility of all the police stations in Dhaka officially came into his hands. The coordinators say that by that time, a ‘rebel Chhatra League’ had been formed inside. Many Chhatra League members had warned the protesters about the party’s various plans in advance. Many Chhatra League leaders also resigned at that time. Former coordinator Rifat Rashid said, “Not everyone actually joined Chhatra League from the heart. We included those Chhatra League members who did not support it from the heart in the movement.” By the end of July, it became clear that the movement was no longer limited to students or to the demand for quotas. People were outraged by then—everyone was demanding justice for the murder.