On Saturday, July 20, 2024, hundreds of Bangladeshi students and professionals gathered in Hamburg Hbf to demand the resignation of the current Bangladeshi government, citing ongoing mass killings and human rights violations in Bangladesh.
Their calls for justice include stopping the killing of students and ending the reign of the current autocratic government.
This mass protest, sparked by the government’s violent response to demands for quota reform, saw students and professionals from all over Germany standing in solidarity with their peers in Bangladesh.
Origins of the Quota Reform Movement: The Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh began as a response to the quota system in government jobs and public universities, which reserved 56% of positions for various groups, including freedom fighters’ descendants, women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. Students and job seekers argued that this system was unfair and hindered merit-based selection.

Initial Protests
The movement gained momentum in early 2018, led by university students. Despite
their peaceful protests, the government remained unresponsive. Renewed protests erupted in July
2024.
Large-Scale Protests
Protests intensified across major universities, particularly in Dhaka, with demands to reduce the quota percentage and ensure unfilled quota positions were made available to merit-based candidates.
Violent Clashes and Casualties
The situation escalated when the ruling party’s wing, Chhatra League, attacked a student procession demanding quota reform, resulting in the deaths of three students.
Tensions rose further as police involvement led to open firing, killing 27 students by July 18. As of July
20, the death toll has risen to 138, with thousands injured. The violent crackdown sparked widespread protests both within Bangladesh and among the Bangladeshi diaspora.
Current Major Demands:
The following six demands have been made in light of the current situation, holding the current
government accountable for the wrongful killing of innocent students, lack of freedom of speech,
absence of democracy, and misuse of remittance funds sent by expatriate Bangladeshis:
- End Innocent Killings and Withdraw Army and Section 144: Immediate cessation of the killing of
innocent students. The army deployment and Section 144 should be withdrawn to allow people to live
peacefully. - International Court Trial and Withdrawal of False Charges Against Protesters: Hold the
government accountable for the killing of innocent students through international court trials. All false
charges and accusations against protesters should be withdrawn to deter future crimes of this nature. - Rewriting of Freedom of Speech: Amend the constitution of Bangladesh to ensure freedom of
speech, allowing citizens to express their opinions and protest peacefully. - Establishment of Democracy: Take measures to establish genuine democracy, ensuring the right to
vote and that people’s opinions are accurately reflected. - Formation of a National Unity Government and Change of Current Government: Engage in
meaningful discussions with competent individuals to form a new national unity government that can gain public trust, as the current government has failed to maintain it. - Stop Sending Remittances for Investment: Expatriate Bangladeshis should halt sending remittances
for investment purposes until the government stops innocent killings and meets the public’s demands.
However, remittances for family support will continue via alternative methods.
These demands aim to ensure government accountability and foster a healthy political and social
environment.

Call to the International Community
The protesters urge the international community to stand with them and raise their voices against these human rights violations to help bring about a safe and just country for everyone.
Support from the Bangladeshi Community in Hamburg
With over 1,000 Bangladeshis living in Hamburg as students or skilled professionals, the local community has shown strong support for the movement, highlighting the global solidarity for justice and reform in Bangladesh.

The protest movement continues to gain momentum, driven by the urgent need for justice,
transparency, and democratic reform in Bangladesh.