Bangladesh: Protesters Announce Nationwide Strike for July 4, 2024

On July 4, 2024, students in Dhaka led a five-and-a-half-hour blockade at Shahbag intersection, marking the fourth day of protests against the reinstatement of the government job quota system. Organized under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the demonstrations demanded the restoration of a 2018 circular that abolished the quota system, advocating for merit-based recruitment. The protests, which began at Dhaka University, have spread across Bangladesh, with students and job seekers rallying against perceived discrimination in public sector hiring.

Social media platforms, including X, reported significant participation nationwide, with visuals of protesters waving national flags and chanting slogans like “Quota or Merit? Merit, Merit.” Tensions escalated as members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, allegedly attempted to block protesters by locking dormitory gates at Dhaka University. Despite these challenges, the movement has gained traction, with calls for a nationwide strike to amplify their demands.

The protests stem from a High Court ruling on June 5, 2025, which declared the 2018 quota abolition illegal, reigniting debates over fairness in government job allocations. Authorities have increased police presence in Dhaka to maintain order, but no major clashes were reported on July 4.

Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 4th, 2025

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