Today is the first death anniversary of Abu Sayeed, an English department student of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, who was shot dead near the university gate on July 16, 2024 during the nationwide Students Against Discrimination movement.
It was his killing that triggered mass protests and is now remembered as a turning point in the country’s recent political history.
On this day, at least six people were martyred in Chattogram, Rangpur, and Dhaka in police firing and attacks on the protesting students.
The government on Tuesday announced that Mourning Day would be observed nationally today to mark July Martyrs’ Day.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard.
Marking the day, the national flag will be kept at half-mast in all government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions, educational institutions of Bangladesh, including all government and private buildings, and Bangladesh missions abroad.
Special prayers will be offered in all mosques of the country seeking eternal peace of the July martyrs. Special prayers will also be offered in other religious institutions, according the notification.
Abu Sayeed was the first protester killed in what students now refer to as the “36 Days of July”— a movement that began on July 1, 2024 demanding an end to discrimination in the public sector recruitment quota system.
The protests quickly grew into a mass uprising, culminating in the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.
‘On this day, I remember with deep respect all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the July mass uprising to make the nation free from the chains of tyranny,’ chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said in a message marking the day.
July 16, 2024 is a remarkable day in the history of the mass uprising of students, workers, and commoners, he said.
Video footage of Sayeed’s death shows him standing alone on the street, arms and legs outstretched, moments before a police bullet struck him.
His collapse was aired widely, shocking the nation and sparking outrage.
Just two days before the tragedy, Sheikh Hasina had described the protesting students as ‘sons and grandsons of Razakars’ during a press conference on July 14 —a remark that further fuelled tensions.
Following Sayeed’s death, the demand for justice grew louder and more intense.
An ICT investigation has found that a total of 3,05,311 rounds of bullets were used across the country, including 95,313 rounds in the capital alone, during the July uprising.
The crackdown allegedly killed over 1,500 people and seriously injured more than 25,000, leaving many of them blind or permanently disabled. The victims included women and children.
On July 1, 2025, the prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunals submitted formal charges against 30 individuals for crimes against humanity in connection with Sayeed’s murder.
The accused include former BRUR vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid Bachchu, 11 university staff and faculty members , eight police officers, one physician, and nine leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League — the student wing of the former ruling party Awami League.
One of the most shocking allegations involves Dr Sarowat Hossain Chandan, a forensic expert and member of the pro-Awami League doctors’ association Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, Swachip in short, who allegedly falsified the post-mortem report, claiming Sayeed died of ‘blunt injuries’ rather than a close-range gunshot.
The ICT investigation agency submitted its final probe report on June 26 against the 30 accused.
Abu Sayeed’s brother, Ramjan Ali, filed two separate complaints — one with the ICT and another with the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Rangpur.
He initially named 24 people, including former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and ex-IGP Abdullah Al-Mamun in the cases. However, the final charge sheet excluded them and instead added 12 new accused, including Dr Sarowat.