Thousands of students from all major universities participated in the ‘Bangla Blockade’ initiative1283 by boycotting classes1284 and blocking key highways and roads across the country.1285 Traffic was disrupted over the course of three days,1286 with a one-day pause on 9 July 2024.1287 In Dhaka, student protesters blocked Shahbagh intersection, and other roads across the capital,1288 both on 7 July1289 (which brought traffic in Dhaka City close to a ‘standstill’1290) and on 8 July 2024.1291 The blockades caused severe disruption to traffic in the capital for the fifth and sixth day since the protests started.1292 On 10 July 2024, the ‘Bangla Blockade’ resumed with day-long blockades.1293 Shabagh intersection was blocked, for about eight hours,1294 as well as other roads across Dhaka City.1295
Student protesters also blocked major highways across the country,1296 cutting of road traffic to and from Dhaka City.1297 Including those connecting the capital to areas along westbound routes (such as Dhaka–Archia, Dhaka–Pabna,1298 and Dhaka–Rajshahi),1299 eastbound routes (such as Dhaka–Mymensigh),1300 southbound routes (such as Dhaka–Chattogram highway,1301 Dhaka–Barishal,1302 Dhaka–Kuakata,1303 and Dhaka–Khulna)1304 and northbound routes (such as Dhaka–Dinajpur,1305 and Dhaka–Rangpur).1306 Additionally protesters blocked highways connecting Sylhet to Sunamganj in the east,1307 and Kushtia to Khulna in the southwest1308 and Barishal–Kuakata,1309 as well as roads in other areas.1310
Train traffic was also disrupted with students blocking the Dhaka–Mymensingh railroad on 7 July 2024,1311 and several other rail tracks on 8 July 2024 – which disrupted train traffic for hours. On 8 July 2024, students blocked the Karwan Bazar level crossing in Dhaka City,1312 the Dhaka–Rajshahi railway,1313 and the Dhaka–Mymensing railway (for the third consecutive day).1314 They reportedly also blocked Sholshahar station in Chattogram.1315 Consequently, rail tracks connecting Dhaka1316 and Rajshahi to the rest of the country were cut off.1317 Also on 10 July 2024, rail tracks were blocked across the country.1318
Hasina publicly commented on the protests for the first time on 7 July 2024. She denounced them, stating that they were no longer justified and a waste of time following the Supreme Court’s verdict.1319 Other senior government officials echoed this sentiment and implied that the protests were ‘infiltrated’ by the opposition in subsequent public statements.1320
Following two petitions,1321 the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the High Court’s verdict on the quota on 10 July 2024,1322 for one month.1323
On 10 July 2024, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) (an elite paramilitary force that has been accused of ‘serious human rights violations’1324) was deployed to contain protests, alongside the police.1325 According UN OHCHR, Hasina authorised military intelligence to carry out ‘secret negotiations’ with the leaders of the student movement.1326
- 1283
VOA, Bangladeshi protesters demand end to civil service job quotas, 7 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, PM Hasina rejects anti-quota demands, calls movement unjustified, 7 July 2024, url
- 1284
Bdnews 24.com, Traffic at a halt in parts of Dhaka as quota protesters block roads, 7 July 2024, url; Barta24, Bangla Blockade at Shahbag intersection, suffering traffic, 7 July 2024, url; Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url; Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url
- 1285
VOA, Bangladeshi protesters demand end to civil service job quotas, 7 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, PM Hasina rejects anti-quota demands, calls movement unjustified, 7 July 2024, url
- 1286
Business Standard (The), Dhaka standstill as protest, festival trigger heavy traffic woes, 7 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Train movement in Dhaka halted as students block rail tracks, 10 July 2024, url; Somoy TV, Bangla Blockade: Locations likely to be blocked by protesters today, 11 July 2024, url
- 1287
Dhaka Tribune, Anti-quota movement: Bangla Blockade to continue Thursday, 10 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Quota Reform Demo: Protesters set to resume blockade today, 10 July 2024, url
- 1288
Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: DU students block Shahbagh intersection to protest quotas, 7 July 2024, url; Business Standard (The), Dhaka standstill as protest, festival trigger heavy traffic woes, 7 July 2024, url; New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url
- 1289
Financial Express (The), Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways, 8 July 2024, url
- 1290
Business Standard (The), Dhaka standstill as protest, festival trigger heavy traffic woes, 7 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Anti-Quota Movement: ‘Bangla blockade’ to continue on Monday, 7 July 2024, url
- 1291
New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url
- 1292
Bdnews24.com, Traffic mayhem paralyses Dhaka again as anti-quota protesters block roads, 9 July 2024, url
- 1293
Dhaka Tribune, Anti-quota movement: Bangla Blockade to continue Thursday, 10 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Quota Reform Demo: Protesters set to resume blockade today, 10 July 2024, url
- 1294
Prothom Alo, Blockade to continue tomorrow as students left Shahbagh after 8hrs, 10 July 2024, url; New Age, Quota protesters want law, not litigation, 10 July 2024, url
- 1295
Prothom Alo, Blockade to continue tomorrow as students left Shahbagh after 8hrs, 10 July 2024, url; Jagonews24.com, Quota protest: Blockade brings nation to a standstill, 10 July 2024, url
- 1296
Business Standard (The), Quota protest: JU students block Dhaka-Aricha highway for 2 hours, boycott classes, exams, 7 July 2024, url; Financial Express (The), Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways, 8 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Train movement in Dhaka halted as students block rail tracks, 10 July 2024, url
- 1297
Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url; Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url
- 1298
Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: RU, Ruet students block Dhaka-Rajshahi highway, 10 July 2024, url
- 1299
Bdnews24.com, Commuters suffer as quota protest blocks roads to press for 'one-point' demand, 10 July 2024, url; AFP, Bangladesh suspends job quotas after student protests, 10 July 2024, url
- 1300
Financial Express (The), Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways, 8 July 2024, url
- 1301
Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Students to remain on Dhaka-Chittagong highway till 8pm, 8 July 2024, url; Financial Express (The), Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways, 8 July 2024, url; New Age, Dhaka traffic paralysed, highways in different parts of Bangladesh blocked, 7 July 2024, url
- 1302
Financial Express (The), Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways, 8 July 2024, url; New Age, Dhaka traffic paralysed, highways in different parts of Bangladesh blocked, 7 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Barisal University students block highway for 4hrs, 10 July 2024, url
- 1303
Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url; New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url
- 1304
Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url
- 1305
Financial Express (The), Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways, 8 July 2024, url; New Age, Dhaka traffic paralysed, highways in different parts of Bangladesh blocked, 7 July 2024, url
- 1306
Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url; New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url; New Age, Quota protesters want law, not litigation, 10 July 2024, url
- 1307
Daily Observer, SUST students block Sylhet-Sunamganj highway, 10 July 2024, url; Financial Express (The), Bangla blockade stalls Dhaka, chokes major highways, 8 July 2024, url; New Age, Dhaka traffic paralysed, highways in different parts of Bangladesh blocked, 7 July 2024, url
- 1308
New Age, Dhaka traffic paralysed, highways in different parts of Bangladesh blocked, 7 July 2024, url; Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url; Business Standard (The), Anti-quota protest: Students block Dhaka-Aricha, Cumilla-Ctg, Kushtia-Khulna highways, 10 July 2024, url
- 1309
Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Barisal University students block highway for 4hrs, 10 July 2024, url; New Age, Quota protesters want law, not litigation, 10 July 2024, url
- 1310
Business Standard (The), Anti-quota protest: Students block Dhaka-Aricha, Cumilla-Ctg, Kushtia-Khulna highways, 10 July 2024, url; New Age, Quota protesters want law, not litigation, 10 July 2024, url
- 1311
Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url; New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url
- 1312
Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Train movement in Dhaka halted as students block rail tracks, 10 July 2024, url
- 1313
Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url; New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url
- 1314
Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url; New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url
- 1315
New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url; Daily Post (The), Country in deadlock by Bangla blockade, 8 July 2024, url
- 1316
Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Train movement in Dhaka halted as students block rail tracks, 10 July 2024, url
- 1317
Financial Express (The), Quota protests disrupt rail, road transport, 9 July 2024, url; New Age, Anti-quota protests rock Bangladesh, 8 July 2024, url
- 1318
New Age, Quota protesters want law, not litigation, 10 July 2024, url; Jagonews24.com, Quota protest: Blockade brings nation to a standstill, 10 July 2024, url; Business Standard (The), Anti-quota protest: Students block Dhaka-Aricha, Cumilla-Ctg, Kushtia-Khulna highways, 10 July 2024, url
- 1319
Dhaka Tribune, PM Hasina rejects anti-quota demands, calls movement unjustified, 7 July 2024, url
- 1320
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 30
- 1321
Dhaka Tribune, Bangla Blockade: Traffic halted as protesters block Science Lab, 10 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Quota Reform Demo: Protesters set to resume blockade today, 10 July 2024, url
- 1322
BBC News, Anger over jobs reserved for war heroes' children, 11 July 2024, url
- 1323
Dhaka Tribune, Anti-quota movement: Bangla Blockade to continue Thursday, 10 July 2024, url; AFP, Bangladesh’s top court suspends job quotas after student protests, 11 July 2024, url
- 1324
Atlantic Council, US sanctions on Bangladesh’s RAB: What happened? What’s next?, 16 December 2021, url
- 1325
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 39
- 1326
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 31