The student movement announced a half-day blockade for 11 July 2024.1327 During the first three days of the ‘Bangla Blockade’, the police did not interfere with protests.1328 However, on 11 July 2024, the police announced that it would act against road blockades,1329 arguing that no valid justification remained for protests after the temporary suspension of the quota.1330
Nevertheless, tens of thousands reportedly joined the protests,1331 defied police barricades,1332 and blocked Shahbagh intersection again,1333 as well as major highways1334 and rail tracks.1335 In Dhaka City, police reportedly prevented students from blocking the Science Lab intersection in the afternoon,1336 and prevented students of Dhaka College and Eden Mohila College from joining the Shahbagh blockade by stopping them in New Market area.1337 According to Dhaka Tribune, more police officers were deployed in the area compared to previous days, and further reported on police barricades at Victory Square, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, Gulistan, Science Lab, Nilkhet, and Agargaon.1338 Students however broke through police barricades, as well as their campus gates that had been locked to prevent protests.1339 Police clashed with protesters at She-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Shahbagh.1340 Somoy TV reported that one of their reporters and a cameraperson were attacked in the same area.1341
Students of Jahangirnagar University also broke through the campus gates and defied police barricades in order to block Dhaka–Aricha highway again.1342 They reportedly further defied police instructions to end the blockade within 30 minutes and continued for hours.1343
At least 30 people were reportedly injured in clashes across the country.1344 In the city of Cumilla, the police tried to disperse students trying to block a road and a railway1345 by making use of teargas1346 and reportedly also by charging with batons1347 and firing rubber bullets.1348 20 people were reportedly injured due to police intervention in Cumilla,1349 including two journalists.1350 Police also clashed with students in the city of Chattogram.1351 According to Agence-France Presse (AFP), police charged with batons at hundreds of protesters.1352 Police also filed a report accusing students of vandalising police vehicles, and injuring police officers in Shahbagh by beating them up and throwing objects such as water bottles and bricks.1353 Local media footage showed protesters mounting a police vehicle in the area.1354
During a press conference, the President of the Chhatra League, Saddam Hussain, stated that ‘some are trying to use the movement politically and the Chhatra League is ready to face them’.1355 The UN OHCHR later described this statement as an ‘apparent threat’,1356 and local media outlet the Business Standard reported on the Chhatra League subsequently staging counter-demonstrations close to student protests.1357
On 12 July 2024, students across the country protested on their respective campuses against what they referred to as ‘attacks’ on protesters the previous day.1358 In Dhaka, students defied heavy rain flooding parts of the city,1359 and blocked Shahbagh intersection anew, but only for an hour this time, according to local media sources.1360 Local media also reported on students blocking roads and railways,1361 including students of Rajshahi University blocking a nearby railway in the afternoon.1362 In the evening, students of Jahangirnagar University1363 and other educational institutions nearby held simultaneous torch processions.1364 Senior government officials, including the Awami League General Secretary, Obaidul Quader, accused the opposition of trying to infiltrate the student protest movement and incite anti-government agitations.1365 The Minister of Law, Anisul Huq, accused the movement of conspiring with ‘ghosts of the culprits’ opposing Bangladesh’s independence.1366 The next day, the Detective Branch of Dhaka’s Metropolitan Police announced an investigation into alleged infiltration of the protests.1367
- 1327
Daily Messenger (The), Quota protesters observe half-day ‘Bangla Blockade’ on Thursday, 10 July 2024, url
- 1328
Bdnews24.com, Quota protesters to rally on campuses after ‘Bangla Blockade’, 11 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka police to take action against road blockades, 11 July 2024, url
- 1329
Business Standard (The), 'Attacks on students': Countrywide demonstrations at 4:00pm Friday, says protest coordinator, 11 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka police to take action against road blockades, 11 July 2024, url
- 1330
Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka police to take action against road blockades, 11 July 2024, url
- 1331
New York Times (The), Tens of Thousands of Students Protest Job Quotas in Bangladesh’s Streets, 11 July 2024, url
- 1332
Daily Star (The), Students block Shahbagh removing police barricade, 11 July 2024, url
- 1333
Bdnews24.com, Quota protesters to rally on campuses after 'Bangla Blockade', 11 July 2024, url
- 1334
Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: BU students block Barisal-Kuakata highway, 11 July 2024, url
- 1335
Business Standard (The), 'Attacks on students': Countrywide demonstrations at 4:00pm Friday, says protest coordinator, 11 July 2024, url
- 1336
Dhaka Tribune, Students suspend Bangla Blockade in Science Lab, 11 July 2024, url
- 1337
Daily Star (The), Quota protests heat up as govt mulls hard line, 12 July 2024, url
- 1338
Dhaka Tribune, Students suspend Bangla Blockade in Science Lab, 11 July 2024, url
- 1339
Financial Express (The), Protesters scale police cordons, continue demo for executive order, 12 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Quota protests heat up as govt mulls hard line, 12 July 2024, url
- 1340
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 32
- 1341
Daily Star (The), Quota protests heat up as govt mulls hard line, 12 July 2024, url
- 1342
Financial Express (The), Protesters scale police cordons, continue demo for executive order, 12 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: JU students block Dhaka-Aricha highway defying police, 11 July 2024, url
- 1343
Financial Express (The), Protesters scale police cordons, continue demo for executive order, 12 July 2024, url
- 1344
Business Standard (The), 'Attacks on students': Countrywide demonstrations at 4:00pm Friday, says protest coordinator, 11 July 2024, url
- 1345
Bdnews24.com, Quota protesters to rally on campuses after 'Bangla Blockade', 11 July 2024, url; Business Standard (The), 'Attacks on students': Countrywide demonstrations at 4:00pm Friday, says protest coordinator, 11 July 2024, url
- 1346
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 32; AFP, Bangladesh police fire rubber bullets as students stick to their guns, 12 July 2024, url
- 1347
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 32
- 1348
AFP, Bangladesh police fire rubber bullets as students stick to their guns, 12 July 2024, url
- 1349
Business Standard (The), 'Attacks on students': Countrywide demonstrations at 4:00pm Friday, says protest coordinator, 11 July 2024, url; Financial Express (The), Protesters scale police cordons, continue demo for executive order, 12 July 2024, url
- 1350
Daily Star (The), Quota protests heat up as govt mulls hard line, 12 July 2024, url
- 1351
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 32; AFP, Bangladesh police fire rubber bullets as students stick to their guns, 12 July 2024, url
- 1352
AFP, Bangladesh police fire rubber bullets as students stick to their guns, 12 July 2024, url
- 1353
Daily Observer, Police sue protestors over vandalism, assault, 13 July 2024, url
- 1354
AFP, Bangladesh police fire rubber bullets as students stick to their guns, 12 July 2024, url
- 1355
Dhaka Tribune, Chhatra League: Prepared to face those trying to politicise quota protests, 11 July 2024, url
- 1356
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 32
- 1357
Business Standard (The), 'Attacks on students': Countrywide demonstrations at 4:00pm Friday, says protest coordinator, 11 July 2024, url
- 1358
Daily Observer, Quota reformists briefly block Shahbagh, protest police attacks, 13 July 2024, url; Business Standard (The), 'Attacks on students': Countrywide demonstrations at 4:00pm Friday, says protest coordinator, 11 July 2024, url
- 1359
Financial Express (The), Quota protesters condemn police attacks, 13 July 2024, url
- 1360
Business Standard (The), Anti-quota protest ends for today after brief rally in Shahbagh, countrywide symbolic meetings announced for tomorrow, 12 July 2024, url; Daily Observer, Anti-quota protesters to announce decision after meeting on Saturday, 12 July 2024, url
- 1361
Daily Observer, Quota reformists briefly block Shahbagh, protest police attacks, 13 July 2024, url
- 1362
Business Standard (The), Anti-quota protest ends for today after brief rally in Shahbagh, countrywide symbolic meetings announced for tomorrow, 12 July 2024, url
- 1363
Financial Express (The), Quota protesters condemn police attacks, 13 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Quota protest: JU students bring out torch procession on campus, 12 July 2024, url
- 1364
Financial Express (The), Quota protesters condemn police attacks, 13 July 2024, url
- 1365
Daily Observer, Quota protesters showing strength against court: Quader, 12 July 2024, url
- 1366
Daily Observer, 'Ghosts of anti-liberation forces conspiring with quota protestors', 12 July 2024, url
- 1367
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 32; Prothom Alo, Checking if there is infiltration in the quota movement: DB, 13 July 2024, url