“Who do we go to when the police murders?” -- read a placard at a march of defiance titled ‘Droho Jatra’ that unfolded in Dhaka and was joined by thousands, including teachers, cultural workers, members of civil society, and leaders and activists from left-leaning political parties.

They demanded justice for those killed, the release of those arrested, the withdrawal of the curfew, and the reopening of educational institutions.

Addressing the gathering, Professor Anu Muhammad, an economist, said, “We don’t want anything from this government. We must hold the government accountable and ensure justice. Those who were arrested must be freed, and the filing of cases and suppression must stop, and the curfew must be withdrawn.”

Meanwhile, at least two persons were killed and scores injured in clashes with police and Awami League activists across the country.

In a statement issued that day, Nahid Islam and five fellow coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement said the video of their announcement to withdraw the protests was made at the Detective Branch (DB) office on July 28 under duress.

They disavowed it publicly and called for continuing the protests, announcing a protest march for August 3, and a full non-cooperation movement from August 4.

The coordinators also said they would gather at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka after the march.

From the afternoon, Facebook and Telegram were once again shut down on mobile networks for around five and a half hours.

At night, the prime minister Sheikh Hasina held an emergency meeting with leaders of the 14-party alliance at Gono Bhavan.

She also instructed several AL leaders to initiate dialogue with the movement coordinators in an attempt to calm a situation that was rapidly slipping from the government’s grip.