Reactions The July massacre prompted significant criticism and calls for accountability. The University Teachers Network held a demonstration at the
University of Dhaka, expressing concern over the violence. Protibadi Nagorik Somaj condemned the killings during the movement, describing them as a massacre and expressing doubts about the judiciary's ability to deliver impartial justice, as the inquiry commission was formed by the
Fifth Hasina ministry, which is also accused of involvement in the massacre. Some academics rejected the government-established public inquiry commission, calling for intervention from the United Nations. In
Sylhet, Nagorik Alem Somaj organised a protest criticising the killings.
Sheikh Hasina, in her first public statement published through her son
Sajeeb Wazed, since being ousted from power, called for an investigation into the deaths during the protests, while also asserting that the police and the
Awami League were victims of "terrorist aggression". Govinda Pramanik, president of the
Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, alleged that the government had killed over 500 innocent people to maintain power, urging that the events be prosecuted at the
International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. Several trade unions and organisations also criticised the killings, demanding justice for those who lost their lives during the July massacre. A protest march under the banner of
Chittagong University Chhatra Dal in
Chattogram demanded prosecution against Hasina for the massacre. The
Left Democratic Alliance,
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and the Anti-Fascist Left Front criticised the Awami League government rule, urging financial compensation for the families of those killed in the protests and free medical care for the injured. Similarly, the
National Democratic Party demanded in compensation for the families of those who died during the massacre, along with a government job for at least one member of each affected family.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh called for an independent tribunal to ensure justice for the victims of the massacre. In addition, the People's Rights Party called for all political parties within the
Grand Alliance, including Awami League, to be barred from future elections.
Non–cooperation movement and Resignation of Sheikh Hasina Following the intensification of the July 2024 protests, the non-cooperation movement became a major response to the government's actions. On 4 August thousands of protesters assembled at
Shahbag intersection in
Dhaka, using the blockade as a form of
civil disobedience to demand the resignation of the government. The movement aimed to disrupt normal operations and challenge the authorities. To support their cause,
Students Against Discrimination has enacted a broad non-cooperation strategy. Public-sector operations were significantly affected: bureaucrats and district officials abstained from their duties, and luxury stores, showrooms, shops, hotels, and restaurants were closed. Essential services such as hospitals, pharmacies, and emergency relief continued, but grocery stores operated only briefly during limited hours. Offshore transactions were halted to prevent possible smuggling of funds. The Non–cooperation movement led to significant unrest. Nationwide, at least 97 people were reported dead due to confrontations, shootings, and clashes. Among the fatalities were forty-four police officers, with thirteen killed at the
Enayetpur police station in
Sirajganj and one in Eliotganj,
Comilla. Additionally, twenty-seven police facilities were attacked and vandalised, and around one hundred police officers were injured. In Dhaka various vehicles were set on fire, including those at the
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. The government responded with a nationwide internet blackout starting at noon on August 4, blocking major social media platforms to limit communication and information dissemination. An indefinite curfew was imposed beginning at 6:00 p.m., and all courts were closed. The government also declared a three-day general holiday from August 5, during which banks and many businesses were closed. Despite these measures, the
Students Against Discrimination announced plans of
Long March to Dhaka campaign on 5 August, prompting a further crackdown. On 5 August 2024, amid escalating protests and violence, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. The political vacuum led to immediate discussions about establishing an interim government to restore order and address the demands of the protesters. The
Chief of Army Staff,
Waker-uz-Zaman, convened a meeting with representatives from the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
Jatiya Party (Ershad), and
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The meeting resulted in a call for the formation of an interim government within 48 hours, explicitly excluding the Awami League. In subsequent developments, the
Nobel Prize laureate
Muhammad Yunus was approached to lead the
Interim government. Other potential candidates included
Salahuddin Ahmed, former governor of
Bangladesh Bank; the retired
General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury; and the lawyer
Sara Hossain. Yunus accepted the role as the
chief adviser, and his nomination received support from prominent figures within the
Students Against Discrimination. In a bid to address the ongoing crisis and to signal a shift in policy, President
Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of all students detained during the protests and
Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister and chairperson of the BNP. This decision was made unanimously at a meeting with major opposition parties and
Bangladesh Armed Forces leaders. On 6 August
Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the
Jatiya Sangsad, responding to an ultimatum from the student movement that threatened further demonstrations. He also carried out a reorganisation within the Bangladesh Armed Forces and removed
Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun as
Inspector-General of the Bangladesh Police. Following these actions, Shahabuddin formally appointed Muhammad Yunus as the head of the
Interim government on 7 August. Yunus, who had been in Paris as a guest for the
2024 Summer Olympics, returned to
Dhaka on 8 August and was inaugurated along with his cabinet at the
Bangabhaban. The interim government included notable figures from the student movement, such as
Nahid Islam and
Asif Mahmud, as advisers, reflecting a view of addressing the demands of the protesters through a transitional period. == Investigations ==