The July 2024 Movement in Bangladesh: A Focused Study of the Role and Response of the ‎Common People in Dhaka District

Authors

  • Mahammad Sohel Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social Science, Gopalganj Science and ‎Technology University, Gopalganj-8100, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4016-4121
  • Md Rahatul Mowla Rahat Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social Science, Gopalganj Science and ‎Technology University, Gopalganj-8100, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1376-2059

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65826/JSAI.1.1.2026.53

Keywords:

Common people’s role, July movement, public response, Challenging dominant narratives, ‎political movements in Bangladesh

Abstract

The movements in Bangladesh are usually run under some political banner and always ‎promote that political party, excluding the common people role. But sometimes they ‎remained undermined because they were not politicians, public figures, intellectuals, or other ‎important persons. The July movement was such a movement where characters, working-‎class citizens, rural populations living in Dhaka, housewives, CNG, auto, and rickshaw ‎pullers, garment workers, small business owners, and others, who were directly involved are ‎kept unexplored. The research defines them as common people who played a crucial role in ‎the movement. This study contends with their struggles, motivations, and sacrifices. This ‎research challenges the prevailing understanding that political movements in Bangladesh are ‎driven mainly by political parties and youth activists. By focusing on the neglected roles of ‎common people, it reveals that this group were crucial agents of change—contradicting ‎dominant narratives and filling a significant gap in existing scholarship by reviewing their ‎dedication. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods, with primary data from ‎focus group discussions, interviews, and local sources, and secondary data from social media ‎and prior research. It has implications in policymaking, academia, and the government. ‎Above all, it will recognise the contribution of any person to the socio-economic ‎development of the country.‎

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Published

2026-01-15

How to Cite

Sohel, M., & Md Rahatul Mowla Rahat. (2026). The July 2024 Movement in Bangladesh: A Focused Study of the Role and Response of the ‎Common People in Dhaka District. Journal of South Asian Issues (JSAI), 1(1), 200–216. https://doi.org/10.65826/JSAI.1.1.2026.53

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