Special Report :
Successful revolutions or mass uprisings rarely emerge overnight. Rather, they are the result of years of accumulated public frustration, grievances, and resistance. Just as Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 was the culmination of decades of political struggle—from the Language Movement of 1952 to the Mass Uprising of 1969 and the election of 1970—the July Revolution of 2024 was the outcome of a prolonged fight against inequality, corruption, and the erosion of democratic rights.
According to political observers, the political transformation of August 5, 2024, was the logical consequence of growing public discontent under what critics describe as 17 years of authoritarian rule. The movement, they argue, was rooted in a long-term struggle initiated by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and strategically advanced by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
To understand the historical context of the July Revolution, it is necessary to examine Bangladesh’s political developments since 2001. Following the landslide victory of the BNP-led four-party alliance in the October 2001 general election, the government pursued policies emphasizing economic self-reliance, national interests, and an independent foreign policy. However, supporters of the BNP claim that domestic and international forces subsequently worked to undermine this trajectory, culminating in the controversial political transition of January 11, 2007.
During the military-backed caretaker administration of 2007–2008, several senior BNP leaders, including Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, and the late Arafat Rahman Koko, were imprisoned. BNP leaders have long maintained that Tarique Rahman was subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse during detention.
Many within the party believe that this period planted the seeds of future resistance against authoritarian governance.
Following the 2008 election, critics accused the Awami League government of gradually weakening democratic institutions. The abolition of the non-partisan caretaker government system and the disputed elections of 2014 and 2018 became central issues in the opposition’s campaign. Throughout this period, Khaleda Zia faced imprisonment and legal restrictions, while Tarique Rahman, operating from abroad, reorganized the BNP through digital communication and called for broader national unity against what the party described as authoritarian rule.BNP leaders argue that the 2018 election, widely referred to by opposition figures as the “night-time vote,” exposed serious flaws in the electoral process and drew international attention to Bangladesh’s political situation. They credit Tarique Rahman’s political and diplomatic efforts with helping to shape global awareness regarding democratic concerns in the country.
Over the course of 17 years, BNP leaders and activists faced extensive legal and political pressure.
According to party figures, more than 142,000 political cases were filed against over five million party members and supporters. The BNP also claims that thousands were injured, disappeared, or suffered economic hardship, while more than 1,500 activists lost their lives and hundreds were victims of enforced disappearance.
When the quota reform movement of 2024 evolved into a broader anti-discrimination and pro-democracy movement, BNP supporters contend that it merged with the party’s long-standing one-point movement against authoritarianism. Under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, BNP activists joined students and citizens in nationwide protests, often confronting police actions and security measures on the streets.
The party claims that 422 of its members were killed during the final phase of the uprising. BNP leaders maintain that the combined efforts of students, ordinary citizens, and opposition activists ultimately led to the political change of August 5, 2024, bringing an end to what they describe as an authoritarian era.
Supporters of Tarique Rahman view the July Revolution not as an isolated event, but as the culmination of a prolonged political struggle spanning nearly two decades. In their assessment, the movement represents a historic turning point in Bangladesh’s democratic journey and a testament to the resilience of those who continued their campaign despite years of political repression.
