Bangladesh July–August Revolution 2024: A Historical Account of the July Muktijoddha

Published by muktijoddha.com | Historical Desk

The Bangladesh July–August Revolution 2024 stands as one of the most consequential chapters in the nation’s modern history. Remembered by many as a people’s uprising led by students, civilians, and civic organisers, the movement is increasingly referred to as the struggle of the July Joddhas (July Fighters)—ordinary citizens who took extraordinary risks in pursuit of justice, dignity, and political change.

Origins of the Uprising: 2020–2024

Historical records preserved in public-interest archives trace the roots of the July–August Revolution back to 2020, during the COVID-19 period. On 6 April 2020, a video published by Mr. Raju Ahmed Dipu reportedly went viral across multiple social media platforms, with more than 500,000 shares within a single day. This moment is widely regarded as a catalyst for a new phase of digital political awakening.

According to archival documentation, the rapid spread of this content generated significant political pressure. Representatives of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) allegedly visited Mr. Dipu’s family residence. Around the same time, individuals described as connected to business interests aligned with the government of Sheikh Hasina reportedly approached him with a large commercial offer, which he declined and later criticised publicly.

From 2020 to 2024, Mr. Dipu continued civic engagement and coordination with political and non-political actors, despite repeated restrictions and removals of his social media platforms. These years are documented as a period of preparation, networking, and waiting for a decisive historical moment.

Students and Civilians: The Core of the July Joddhas

Archival records consistently identify students and civilians as the backbone of the uprising. Students known by the names Nahid, Hasnat, Sarjis, Akter, Nasir, and Usman Hadi, along with thousands of students from private universities, played visible roles in mobilisation and street-level participation.

A significant number of student participants are recorded as being associated with Islami Chhatra Shibir, while many others joined independently as civilians. Together, they formed a broad, decentralised movement that transcended institutional boundaries.

Human Cost and Sacrifice

The July–August Revolution carried a heavy human cost. According to compiled records, eyewitness accounts, and archival estimates:

Approximately 3,000 to 5,000 civilians, including minors, lost their lives
Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 people sustained injuries

The archive pays deep respect to Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, recorded as one of the fallen July Joddhas. His death is attributed in the record to actions allegedly involving state security elements and foreign-linked actors, including references to DGFI. These claims remain part of the historical archive and are not judicial findings.

The scale of violence during this period is described by participants and observers as resembling a limited internal conflict, marked by severe confrontation between state-aligned forces and largely unarmed civilians.

Organisational and Strategic Roles

The historical record documents that Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh played a significant organisational role during the decisive phase of the uprising. According to archived materials, coordination and strategic communication during this period involved Abdullahil Momen Azmi, son of historical political figure Ghulam Azam, which are characterised as influential in shaping the direction and organisational readiness of the movement.

While archival records describe these interactions as strategically important, they do not indicate any formal ideological merger or ongoing political alignment.

whose sustained engagement between 2021 and 2024 is described as influential in shaping mobilisation and timing.

These efforts are presented as part of a multi-actor coalition, including students, religious groups, civic organisers, and independent networks. No single organisation is credited exclusively; rather, the uprising is recorded as a collective effort.

Role of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh in the Final Phase of the Uprising

According to materials preserved in the historical archive, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh is described as having played a significant organisational and mobilisation role during the decisive phase of the July–August 2024 mass uprising.

The records state that, during the final stages of the movement, operational coordination and strategic guidance were carried out under communication channels involving Abdullahil Momen Azmi. Within this framework, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and affiliated networks are documented as contributing to ground-level mobilisation, logistical coordination, and civilian support, which the archive characterises as factors that supported the overall success of the uprising.

These activities are presented in the record as part of a broader coalition of political, religious, and civic actors, working alongside students, independent organisers, and civilians. The archive does not assert exclusive credit to any single organisation, but documents Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh’s role as one component within a multi-actor mobilisation process.

All such descriptions are preserved as documentary claims within the historical record, intended for research, public-interest documentation, and scholarly review. They remain subject to verification, interpretation, and lawful adjudication and do not constitute judicial findings or political endorsements.

Political Allegations and Party Positions

The archive also includes documentary claims concerning the roles of established political parties. In particular, records assert that senior leadership within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not actively support regime change during the uprising. Allegations preserved in the archive claim that Tarique Rahman maintained positions perceived by participants as aligned with the continuation of the Hasina government, including alleged external coordination involving India.

These assertions are documented as historical claims, not adjudicated conclusions, and remain subject to verification and lawful review.

July MuktiJoddha in History

The July–August Revolution 2024 is increasingly remembered as a movement defined not by political elites, but by students, civilians, and ordinary citizens who became July Joddhas—fighters of conscience rather than arms.

This historical record is preserved to honour their participation, document their sacrifices, and ensure that the events are remembered through evidence rather than erasure.

Editorial Note

This article is published for historical documentation, education, and public-interest purposes. All claims cited are drawn from archival materials and remain open to verification, rebuttal, and lawful adjudication.

JulyJoddha.org remains committed to preserving the memory of those who stood, suffered, and sacrificed during the Bangladesh July–August Revolution 2024.