On July 12, 2024, students across the country continued blocking highways and railways, protesting police brutality on July 11 and demanding reforms to the government’s quota system for jobs. The protesters, under the anti-discrimination student movement banner, ignored government warnings of strict actions against those causing public disruptions.
The protests began on July 11 when police used batons, tear gas, and blank shots to disperse demonstrators, injuring at least 50 students during the ‘Bangla Blockade’ as they tried to block highways and railways.
In Dhaka, around 5 p.m. on July 12, hundreds of Dhaka University (DU) students marched from the Central Library to Shahbagh, blocking the key intersection for over an hour. Later, students from Dhaka College joined them. Abu Baker Mojumder, a leader of the anti-discrimination movement, announced plans for nationwide delegate conferences and a press conference to announce the next course of action.
Other protests took place across the country. Students from Jagannath University organized a procession, while Jahangirnagar University held a torch march in Savar. In Manikganj, students clashed with members of the ruling party’s student wing, Chhatra League, while trying to form a human chain.
In Rajshahi, students blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi railway line. In Chattogram, a protest march from Sholoshohor railway station included students and job seekers. Other cities like Rangpur, Cumilla, Mymensingh, and Bogura saw students holding rallies and protests, demanding quota reforms. Students from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) also organized a torch procession.
Since July 1, 2024, students had been staging protests to demand fair and rational reforms to the government’s job quota system.
Meanwhile, on the night of July 12, Shahbagh Police filed a case against the protesters for alleged vandalism and attacking police officers during the protest. The government responded by accusing anti-liberation forces of infiltrating the movement. Law Minister Anisul Huq expressed hope that students would accept the Supreme Court’s directive and return home, warning that action would be taken otherwise.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also claimed that the movement had been infiltrated by anti-liberation forces. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman emphasized the need to respect the judiciary and warned that legal action would be taken against anyone disrupting law and order.