The Darkest Day in Bangladesh: State-Sanctioned Repression on August 4, 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65826/JSAI.1.2.2026.93Keywords:
State Repression, August 4 Uprising, Authoritarianism, Quota Reform Movement, Human Rights ViolationsAbstract
On the specific date of August 4, 2024, 96 fatalities were recorded, contributing to the broader estimate of over 1,400 deaths during the entire July Revolution of 2024 (HRSS, 2025). The protests, which had begun in mid-July over the demand for the abolition of workplace quotas, were initially peaceful but turned violent due to brutal state repression (Prakash, 2024). On the same day, Gaza, embroiled in ongoing conflict with Israel, lost 51 lives due to terrorist attacks by Israel (Gaza Ministry of Health, 2024). While Gaza’s 51 fatalities transpired amid an ongoing armed conflict, the 96 deaths in Bangladesh on the same day occurred in a non-war setting lacking external military threats. The occurrence of a domestic political crisis leading to roughly twice the fatalities observed in a conflict zone highlights the disproportionate character of state-sanctioned repression. This comparison is as a statistical baseline to underscore the unprecedented severity of human rights violations against unarmed citizens in Bangladesh.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sheikh Muzzammil Hussen, Md Abu Bakkar Siddik, Nisath Jahan Majeda, Md Moshiur Rahman
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