Students Against Discrimination

The organisation was created on 1 July 2024. On 8 July 2024, it announced a 65-member committee, comprising 23 coordinators and 42 co-coordinators, to make the movement a success after its creation.{{Cite news |date=3 August 2024 |title=Anti-Discrimination Student Movement forms 158-member coordination team |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/anti-discrimination-student-movement-forms-158-member-coordination-team-908671 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/asia/bangladesh-protests-students.html | title=Roaring Back After Crackdown, Bangladesh Protesters Demand Leader's Ouster | work=The New York Times | last1=Hasnat | first1=Saif | last2=Mashal | first2=Mujib | date=3 August 2024 }} On 3 August, after the agitation grew in scale, the group formed a 158-member coordination team with students from various educational institutions, of which 49 were coordinators and 109 were co-coordinators.{{Cite news |date=3 August 2024 |title='Students Against Discrimination' forms 158-member coordination team |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/80zgfqjcer |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Prothom Alo |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=3 August 2024 |script-title=bn:বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের ১৫৮ সদস্যের সমন্বয়ক দল গঠন |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/gblvu2hw4x |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=Prothom Alo |language=bn}}

Since its inception, several coordinators have been seen at the helm of this group. Among them are Nahid Islam, student of Sociology Department of University of Dhaka, Rifat Rashid of International Relations Department, Sarjis Alam of Zoology Department, Hasnat Abdullah of English Department, Asif Mahmud of Linguistics Department, Abu Bakr Majumdar of Law Department, Arif Sohel, student of Jahangirnagar University and others.{{Cite news |date=12 July 2024 |script-title=bn:কোটা আন্দোলন: নেতৃত্বের কৌশল ও ছাত্ররা সংগঠিত হলো যেভাবে |url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/cql8zgl94gpo |access-date=3 August 2024 |publisher=BBC Bangla |language=bn}}

The protesters under the banner of Anti-discrimination Student Movement continuously organised four-point demands on 1 July 2024, in support of reforms on civil service reservation quotas in Bangladesh. From 2 to 6 July, students of various institutions held protests, human chains, highway blockades, etc. in different parts of the country. On 7 July, the platform called for the "Bangla Blockade", under which students staged demonstrations, marches, civil disobedience and blockades of highways and railways.{{Cite news |date=7 July 2024 |script-title=bn:আজ ক্যাম্পাসে ধর্মঘট, সড়কে 'বাংলা ব্লকেড' |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/lp03yemwer |work=Prothom Alo |language=bn |access-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707052835/https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/lp03yemwer |archive-date=7 July 2024 }}

One of the group's coordinators, Abu Sayed of Rangpur's Begum Rokeya University, was shot and killed by the police on 16 July 2024.{{Cite news |date=16 July 2024 |title=Student in Rangpur killed during clash between police and protesters |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/student-dies-police-firing-quota-protest-rangpur-900751 |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}

The anti-discrimination student movement gained momentum when private university students joined on July 16. In response to the escalating quota reform movement, the government mandated the closure of all educational institutions on July 16, 2024. Subsequently, on July 17th, students residing in dormitories at public universities across the nation, including Dhaka University, were compelled to vacate their accommodations. However, due to the permanent residency of a significant portion of private university students in Dhaka, their presence within the city noticeably increased on July 18.{{Cite web |title=Timeline of student-people's 'July uprising' |url=https://www.bssnews.net/news/234531 |access-date=7 January 2025 |website=Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha}} On this date, a substantial confrontation occurred between law enforcement and students affiliated with BRAC University and East West University in the Rampura area. Simultaneously, students from AIUB, North South University, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka International University and UIU staged demonstrations along Kuril Bishwa Road and Pragati Sarani. Concurrently, protests were initiated by students from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh University of Textiles, Southeast University in Mohakhali area and Northern University in the Uttara region.{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Daily |date=August 2024 |title=Contribution of Private University Students in '2nd Liberation War' |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/761935 |access-date=7 January 2025 |website=Daily Sun (Bangladesh) |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=15 July 2024 |title=Private university students join Quota Reform Movement protests |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/campus/campus/news/private-university-students-join-quota-reform-movement-protests-3657691 |access-date=7 January 2025 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=15 September 2024 |title=July 18: The day pvt uni students etched their names in nation's history |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/july-18-day-pvt-uni-students-etched-their-names-nations-history-942381 |access-date=7 January 2025 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=17 students of a private university lost their lives in gunfire |url=https://www.bonikbarta.com/home/news_description/397178/www.combank.net.bd |work=Bonik Barta}}File:Student protest in Dhaka.webm, 2024]]

The group spearheaded a nationwide uprising, advocating for political change and successfully prompting the resignation of the Awami League leadership on August 5, 2024. On 8 August 2024, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, two members of the group were appointed as advisers in the interim government led by Dr Yunus.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/students-youngest-ever-advisers-3672836|title=From students to youngest-ever advisers|date=9 August 2024|newspaper=The Daily Star}} After the Yunus interim government took responsibility of Bangladesh's administration, the group announced a liaison committee to work on the new political arrangement.{{cite news |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/politics/student-movement-leaders-form-liaison-committee-work-new-political-arrangement|title=Student movement leaders form liaison committee to work on new political arrangement after govt formation|date=8 August 2024|access-date=11 August 2024|work=The Business Standard}} On the same day, it announced a new coordination team.{{cite news |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/announcement-new-coordination-team-anti-discrimination-student-movement-hold-coordinators|title=Announcement of new coordination team for Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on hold: Coordinators|date=8 August 2024|access-date=11 August 2024|work=The Business Standard}}

As of August 2024, members of the organisation were suggesting the formation of a political party within a month.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-student-protesters-plan-new-party-cement-their-revolution-2024-08-16/|title=Bangladesh student protesters plan new party to cement their revolution|date=16 August 2024|work=Reuters}}

On 22 October 2024, The organisation announced a four-member central convener committee during press conference at the Central Shaheed Minar. Hasnat Abdullah was made convener, Arif Sohel member secretary, Abdul Hannan Masud chief organiser, and Umama Fatema the spokesperson of the committee.{{Cite news |date=22 October 2024 |script-title=bn:বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের কেন্দ্রীয় আহ্বায়ক কমিটি ঘোষণা |url=https://banglarpatrika.com/news/3111 |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=Banglar Patrika}}

Many members of the organization have been involved in the unlawful destruction and demolition of private property belonging to several political leaders and party offices, including the Jatiya Party’s offices and the ancestral home of its leader, Rowshan Ershad—carried out without any legal authority or official orders.https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/jp-head-office-vandalised-set-fire-3741601

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/43ae8fe9f322

In March 2025, police arrested a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on charges of involvement in the attack on the under-construction model mosque in Pirojpur city, where workers were assaulted, and money was looted.{{Cite web |title=মডেল মসজিদে ভাঙচুর ও ৫ লাখ টাকা লুটের ঘটনায় সমন্বয়ক গ্রেপ্তার |url=https://rtvonline.com/country/317597 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=rtvonline.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=প্রতিনিধি |first=পিরোজপুর |title=পিরোজপুরে সমন্বয়ক সানি গ্রেপ্তার {{!}} কালবেলা |url=https://www.kalbela.com/country-news/174108 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=কালবেলা {{!}} বাংলা নিউজ পেপার |language=bn-BD}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-22 |title=মসজিদ থেকে ৫ লাখ টাকা লুট, সমন্বয়ক গ্রেপ্তার |url=https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/amp/724403/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A7%AB-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%96-%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=The Daily Ittefaq |language=bn}}

In April 2025, police arrested a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement after he attempted to kidnap and rape a woman in Kurigram District.{{Cite news |title=SAD leader arrested over sexual assault charges |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/sad-leader-arrested-over-sexual-assault-charges-3862036 |access-date=2 April 2025 |work=The Daily Star}}

On May 29, 2025, leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement in Rangpur attacked the residence of Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader and set his motorcycle on fire.{{Cite web |last=টেলিভিশন |first=Ekushey TV {{!}} একুশে |title=রংপুরে জিএম কাদেরের বাসভবনে বৈষম্যবিরোধীদের হামলা |url=https://www.ekushey-tv.com/country/1360873111111162804 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Ekushey TV |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=জিএম কাদেরের বাসভবনে হা’মলা |url=https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/734264/%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%AE-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=The Daily Ittefaq |language=bn}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-29 |title=রংপুরে জিএম কাদেরের বাড়িতে হামলার অভিযোগ, উত্তেজনা |url=https://www.banglanews24.com/politics/news/bd/1527737.details |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=banglanews24.com |language=bn}}{{Cite web |title=জিএম কাদেরের বাসায় হামলা-ভাঙচুরের অভিযোগ বৈষম্যবিরোধীদের বিরুদ্ধে |url=https://www.jugantor.com/politics/960181 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Jugantor |language=bn}}

• {{annotated link|July Revolution (Bangladesh)}}
• {{annotated link|July Shaheed Smrity Foundation}}
• {{annotated link|Jatiya Nagorik Committee}}
• {{annotated link|Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad}}
• {{annotated link|Private University Students Alliance of Bangladesh}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline}}

{{Quota reform movement in Bangladesh}}

Category:Bangladesh quota reform movement

Category:2024 establishments in Bangladesh

Category:Student organisations in Bangladesh

Category:Anti-fascism in Bangladesh