Dhaka University Reopens After Student-Led Uprising
After weeks of deadly antigovernment demonstrations, Dhaka University in Bangladesh has reopened its doors. The student-led uprising that led to the shutdown ultimately toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after 15 years in power.
What began as protests against job quotas quickly escalated into a nationwide movement to end Hasina’s authoritarian rule. The campus and surrounding Shahbagh neighborhood became the epicenter of the resistance, with tens of thousands taking to the streets.
Following a violent crackdown that claimed hundreds of lives, the university was closed in July. However, classes have resumed, and the atmosphere is one of renewed hope and freedom. Former protest leaders, once detained by authorities, are now back on campus, inspiring a sense of liberation among students.
Hasina’s government faced allegations of widespread human rights abuses, leading to her removal from power and subsequent exile. As the country embarks on a new chapter, the streets of Shahbagh are adorned with murals celebrating Bangladesh’s “rebirth” and newfound freedom.