The government imposed a national curfew,1672 effective from midnight 19 July until 10:00 on 21 July 2024, with one window of two hours (from 12:00–14:00) for public movement.1673 Security forces were ordered to shoot-on-sight,1674 and over 27 000 army soldiers were deployed.1675 Metro railway services were furthermore closed.1676 The Daily Star reported on ‘systematic government efforts’ to cover up medical records and hide the bodies of those killed during protests in recent days, for example by burying bodies in unnamed graves.1677
The streets of Dhaka City were largely empty1678 except for army troops on patrol1679 and setting up checkpoints.1680 In some areas, protesters defied the curfew1681 and sporadic clashes erupted1682 between protesters, police, army and Ansar forces.1683 According to the Daily Star, the neighbourhoods of Rayerbagh, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur and Mirpur experienced some of the ‘fiercest clashes’.1684 Police opened fire on protesters in several locations,1685 and a DW correspondent noted that protesters did not back down although shots were fired.1686 At least 26 people were reportedly killed in the cities of Dhaka, Mymensigh,1687 Savar (where three were shot dead by police fire1688) and Narayganj.1689 DMCH received injured patients and dead bodies from the Dhaka neighbourhoods of Jatrabari and Shanir Akhra,1690 and the Daily Star reported that over 100 people suffered bullet and pellet injuries in Mymensingh and Savar.1691 From 20 July 2024 and onwards, law enforcement officers reportedly pushed medical staff not to treat protesters and prevented one hospital from admitting patients.1692
Army personnel hesitated to shoot at protesters despite the ‘shoot-on-sight’ order,1693 especially many junior and mid-level officers as reported by UN OHCHR.1694 Nevertheless, there were instances of soldiers shooting at protesters,1695 including in the Dhaka neighbourhood of Mohammadpur where soldiers fired several rounds of lethal ammunition at a peaceful crowd, according to UN OHCHR.1696
On 20–21 July 2024,1697 security forces attempted to clear the Dhaka–Chattogram highway from protesters in the Dhaka neighbourhood of Jatrabari.1698 Police fired live and rubber bullets, as well as teargas, while protesters were throwing bricks and stones.1699 UN OHCHR reported on teargas being launched from RAB and police helicopters in the area, and further reported on the police and RAB ‘systematically using lethal force’ while army units provided coverage. The same source stated that the police had been ‘authorized to shoot rifles and shotguns loaded with lethal ammunition’ as they had been ordered to clear the highway ‘at all costs’.1700 Witnesses told the Daily Star that law enforcement ‘fired indiscriminately at protesters’ and more than 70 people were admitted to DMCH, most with bullet wounds.1701 Four deaths were reported in connection to clashes in the area1702 – including a 10-year-old boy who was shot twice.1703 UN OHCHR reported on the police firing at unarmed protesters, including protesters trying to run away, and one protester lying injured on the ground and pleading for mercy.1704
According to Netra News, a group of unidentified individuals in plainclothes opened fire against protesters and killed at least three persons in the Dhaka neighbourhood Uttara.1705 The same source reported on thousands of protesters attacking and torching a police building in Narayanganj City.1706
The general curfew was extended indefinitely,1707 leaving a window of two hours between 15:00-17:00, and the government declared 21–22 July 2024 public holidays.1708
- 1672
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 44
- 1673
Washington Post (The), Toll in Bangladesh protests tops 100 as Dhaka falls quiet under curfew, 20 July 2024, url
- 1674
AI, Bangladesh: Further information: Thousands of protesters arrested arbitrarily: Rony Sheikh, 9 August 2024, url; UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 117
- 1675
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 44
- 1676
New Age, Metro rail services closed for indefinite period, 20 July 2024, url
- 1677
Daily Star (The), Hastily buried in unmarked graves, 12 March 2025, url
- 1678
DW, Dhaka protesters defy curfew after worst unrest in decades, 20 July 2024, url; Washington Post (The), Toll in Bangladesh protests tops 100 as Dhaka falls quiet under curfew, 20 July 2024, url
- 1679
Netra News, Key events from a deadly Saturday in besieged Bangladesh, 20 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), At least 21 dead on first day of curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1680
Netra News, Live Blog: Bangladesh Protests 2024, 20 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), At least 21 dead on first day of curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1681
DW, Dhaka protesters defy curfew after worst unrest in decades, 20 July 2024, url; Benar News, Deaths, protests continue despite curfew in Bangladesh, 20 July 2024, url; Netra News, Key events from a deadly Saturday in besieged Bangladesh, 20 July 2024, url
- 1682
NPR, Bangladesh's top court scales back jobs quota after deadly clashes with, 21 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), At least 21 dead on first day of curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1683
New Age, Protests, violence, killings mark first day of curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1684
Daily Star (The), At least 21 dead on first day of curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1685
Netra News, Key events from a deadly Saturday in besieged Bangladesh, 20 July 2024, url
- 1686
DW, Dhaka protesters defy curfew after worst unrest in decades, 20 July 2024, url
- 1687
Prothom Alo, 26 killed in Saturday’s violence, 124 in four days, 24 July 2024, url
- 1688
Netra News, Key events from a deadly Saturday in besieged Bangladesh, 20 July 2024, url; New Age, Protests, violence, killings mark first day of curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1689
Daily Star (The), Violence flares in Mymensingh, Savar, N’ganj, 21 July 2024, url
- 1690
Prothom Alo, 26 killed in Saturday’s violence, 124 in four days, 21 July 2024, url
- 1691
Daily Star (The), Violence flares in Mymensingh, Savar, N’ganj, 21 July 2024, url
- 1692
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 153
- 1693
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 135; Netra News, Live Blog: Bangladesh Protests 2024, 20 July 2024, url
- 1694
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 135
- 1695
New Age, Protests, violence, killings mark first day of curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1696
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 129
- 1697
Netra News, Live Blog: Bangladesh Protests 2024, 20 July 2024, url
- 1698
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, p. ii, para. 44; Business Standard (The), Police outnumbered in Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra as protest continues amid curfew, 21 July 2024, url
- 1699
Business Standard (The), Police outnumbered in Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra as protest continues amid curfew, 21 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), At least 7 killed, on 2nd day of curfew, 22 July 2024, url
- 1700
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, p. ii, 31, paras. 44, 139
- 1701
Daily Star (The), At least 7 killed, on 2nd day of curfew, 22 July 2024, url
- 1702
Netra News, Live Blog: Bangladesh Protests 2024, 20 July 2024, url
- 1703
Prothom Alo, Bullet pierces 10-year-old Hossain’s lower abdomen, 27 July 2024, url
- 1704
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, p. 31
- 1705
Netra News, Live Blog: Bangladesh Protests 2024, 20 July 2024, url
- 1706
Netra News, Key events from a deadly Saturday in besieged Bangladesh, 20 July 2024, url
- 1707
Reuters, Bangladesh court scraps most job quotas that sparked deadly protests, 21 July 204, url
- 1708
Euronews, Bangladesh's government extends nationwide curfew and internet ban, 21 July 2024, url; Le Monde, Bangladesh's top court scales back government jobs quota after deadly unrest killed scores, 21 July 2024, url