Beyond Borders, Beyond Silence: The Diaspora's Call to the July Revolution
Diaspora unity, relentless criticism of Hasina’s oppression, and campaigns like the remittance shutdown significantly contributed to Bangladesh’s successful mass uprising.
জুলাই গণঅভ্যুত্থানে প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশীদের ভূমিকা ছিলো অনবদ্য। দেশ মাতৃকাকে শেখ হাসিনার স্বৈরাচারী নিষ্পেষণ থেকে উদ্ধার করতে দৃঢ়ভাবে ঐক্যবদ্ধ হয়ে আন্দোলনের পক্ষে দাঁড়িয়েছিলো প্রবাসীরা। মহাদেশ এবং মহাসাগর পেরিয়ে প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশীদের কণ্ঠস্বর প্রতিধ্বনিত হয়েছিল, প্রতিরোধের এক অটুট সুতোয় তাঁরা মাঠের আন্দোলনকারীদের সাথে একাত্ম হয়ে পড়েছিলো। হাসিনার পতনের পর প্রবাসীরা তাদের স্বাভাবিক কর্মকাণ্ডে ফিরে গেলেও তাদের মন পড়ে আছে স্বৈরাচার-উত্তর বাংলাদেশের গতি-প্রকৃতির দিকে।
Rafiq (pseudonym) left his small village of Bangladesh with the hope that his children would live a life that he could only dream about. He toiled hard under the harsh sun in Dubai, only taking solace in the laughter of his coworkers sharing the same dream. When whispers of protests reached his ears, he did not hesitate to join the protests, not as a rebel but as a father with hope for his children – the hope to see justice back home. Days later, Rafiq was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in jail, leaving his children pondering how they became ensnared in a nightmare of their father's own making.
The July Revolution of 2024 is an extraordinary chapter in the history of Bangladesh. It began as a ripple-less voice of resentment from the students, resulting in a mighty tide sweeping off the iron-fisted Sheikh Hasina regime for good that had once stood the test of long-standing endurance. In the scorching heat of Dhaka, tear gas mingled almost inseparably with the cries of students protesting for justice with a new liberation spirit. Importantly enough, this was not the movement of Bangladesh alone. Throughout oceans and continents, the Bangladeshi diaspora population, like Rafiq, comforted their kin along with the plants of suffering, giving more strength to their cause.
Bangladesh has a growing diaspora, with over 13 million people living in 162 countries worldwide. Diaspora refers to populations, such as members of an ethnic or religious group, originating from the same place of birth and then living in a different location. The developed internet-enabled digital media helps the always-connected diaspora community as catalysts for change in the country of origin. The role of the Bangladeshi diaspora was not to watch from a distance, but to participate actively in an unrepentant challenge against tyranny, and for ideals that lay at the heart of every tyrant. To these expatriates scattered throughout the world, the call from their homeland was never muted by the miles or borders that separated them. It was a call that found them ready to respond just like true patriots would—knowing that the fight for justice is not only for the land but also for the soul. This article illustrates some of the Bangladeshi diaspora's endeavors to support and make the July Revolution a success.
The Global Bond: A Shared Dream for Freedom
On the bitter cobbled streets of Darmstadt, Germany, an expatriate coder named Khandokar Riadul Islam, felt the July Movement as deeply as those in Dhaka. The news of the shooting of Abu Sayed, the martyred of the July Revolution, shattered him and reignited a fire in him that he was not aware of until that moment. Anger flowed deep in his veins with a sense of such a responsibility that he formed an online WhatsApp group comprising people like him- the minimum he could do to organize a digital protest by uniting expatriates on foreign soil. The geography of these lands did not unite them, but it was the single dream of a far-off day when justice would reign over a new Bangladesh. Their protests were not expressions of spontaneous emotions but properly executed acts of rebellion. In Germany, local law dictates that a notice must be given at least 48 hours prior to holding any public demonstration. However, there was no time for Riadul and his fellows to deal with bureaucratic red tape; they had solved the issue with the same resolve as they showed for their protests. Flyers, bangers, and signatures became weapons in the conflict confronted in the streets of Darmstadt. For Riadul and others, this was more than a demonstration; this was their motherland calling.
The Bangladeshi diaspora possessed a remarkable weapon: the internet and the social media. When the complete shutdown of the internet crippled all forms of communication with Bangladesh, the diaspora became the voice for the silenced. Social media yielded a virtual battleground where hashtags replaced war cries, and tweets carried the weight of hard truths. While in cities as various and far-flung as New York, Melbourne, Dallas, Riyadh, Seoul, Cape Town, and London, the digital warriors wrote posts to pierce through the fog of propaganda. Every shared photo and retweeted story became one more beacon of hope to the people on the ground in Bangladesh, who were battling the brutality of Sheikh Hasina regime. These two acts of digital resistance were about raising awareness and living with the truth in an environment in which regimes flourish on distortion.
The Streets of Solidarity: Protests Across the Globe
Besides digital activism, diaspora communities also spilled into the streets and attracted global attention in solidarity with the cause, accelerating the movement by inspiring public opinion and exerting pressure on governments and international bodies to act against oppression. The British parliament took up the students' causes with solidarity from global leaders against Sheikh Hasina's mass killing. Two proud Bangladeshi diasporas, the British MPs Dr. Rupa Huq and Apsana Begum, stood in parliament several times, urging solidarity among students. With other pro-Bangladeshi protests, the diaspora population grew in Melbourne, Australia; under the glistening sun above the State Library came another ray of light—the perfect fusion of unity. Through theistic violence, participants grew to hundreds of people led by executive director Asif Qurish and his volunteer team. Almost 50 expatriates gathered with placards to proclaim their solidarity with protesters in Bangladesh. Slogans such as "Pray for Bangladeshi students," captured the very essence of their cause. IT Engineer Tasfiq Moon and Deputy Sheriff Zakaria Sakib brought out more than 700 participants for the protest in Irving, Texas, despite the extreme hot weather and threats of retaliatory action by the Bangladeshi authorities against their loved one in Bangladesh.
Students from hundreds of universities in the USA and other parts of the world came to the streets in solidarity with the Bangladeshi protesters. Students at the University of Alabama organized a series of events following the movements in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi diasporic students and academicians across the globe worked tirelessly during the tumultuous month of July. Bangladesh Student Association (BSA) in various US universities organized events to support the movement. For instance, around 7,000 people joined one of the rallies organized at Times Square in New York City. These protests were not simply acts of anger; they were love letters to a country forever bound with their identities, however far they had traveled. Each effigy hoisted and each slogan howled, owing a pledge to the land that had formed their very roots.
Expatriate Social Media Influencers Shape Public Opinion
During the uprising, expatriate social media influencers also played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and mobilizing support. Their online activism helped shape the course of events, contributing to Sheikh Hasina's eventual cowardly escape. Expatriates took to social media and shared news updates, real-life stories about what was happening, and messages of support for the demonstrators. Their pivotal stance took the promotion of the protest to a different level on the global front, attracting international attention to the situation and initiating foreign government’s responses. This international attention heightened pressure on the Bangladeshi government to settle the concerns posed by the protesters. In response to the protests, the Bangladeshi government shut down the internet and restricted access to social media platforms to suppress the movement.
One of the pioneers in changing the course of the uprising is journalist Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari. He is known to bring attention at the UN and White House press conferences about human rights violations, election fraud, and authoritarian rule in Bangladesh. Another seasoned social media influencer is France expatriate Pinaki Bhattacharya, who helped create a ground for mass uprisings in Bangladesh. Mr. Bhattacharya was committed to toppling Sheikh Hasina since she forced him to leave the country. Some of the most discussed among those whose news, writings, or video content inspired the people of Bangladesh to join the movement are -US expatriate journalist Elias Hossain, Al-Jazeera investigative journalist Zulkarnain Sayer Khan, Netra News editor-in-chief Tasneem Khalil, writer and thinker Faham Abdus Salam and online activist Shahed Alam. Expatriate social media influencers managed to elude such tactics as they continued to release updates and rally support from abroad. Their online specter allowed the protest to maintain momentum even when domestic communication was dulled.
A Journey of Voices Silenced
Let us go back to Rafiq's story! He joined the assembly of Bangladeshi workers away from the lively crowds and glass façades of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Their days are spent in endless toil; their nights are spent in conversations about hope and dreams of a better tomorrow for Bangladesh. However, in July 2024, the dreams hit a wall of reality. For these workers, this was not just a political fight but a fight for justice, equity, and shared voices. At the same time, the voices raised their demands for change. However, in the UAE, dissent invited danger within days. 57 Bangladeshi workers were arrested. Their crime was to participate in protests that authorities termed an "unlawful assembly." The punishments were stiff and swift: anywhere from 10 years to life in prison. As international movements denounced the UAE for their actions, the plight of the 57 has become a rallying call for human rights. With the UAE detainees, there were other large numbers of Bangladeshi workers who were arrested and jailed in Saudi Arabia as well, which did not come into the public. Their fights are reminiscent of countless others drowned out; their stories crushed to submission under the weight of political economies that consider profit above people.
Economic Resistance: The Power of Remittances
The Bangladeshi diaspora decided to stop sending remittance to Bangladesh. While this act was unprecedented, the blow was devastating for the Sheikh Hasina regime since remittance is one of the lifelines of Bangladesh economy. This economic rebellion should not be taken lightly. It was a conscious attempt to rattle the foundations of a regime that has long preyed on its citizens.
After expatriate Bangladeshis suspended their remittance, the fascist government felt the impact and started begging to send money again. Before the government fell, remittances totaled only $95.65 million during the first three days of August due to social unrest and calls for a remittance boycott. In July, remittances fell to $1.9 billion, a 3.24% drop year-on-year, as shoe-throwing protests and a social media campaign calling for a remittance shutdown developed. The figure marked a steep 24.8% plunge from June's inflow of $2.54 billion, which had been hitting lame remittances in three years. However, the Bangladeshi diaspora resumed sending money just after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime. According to data from the Bangladesh Bank, total remittances during the first ten days of August were $482.77 million. Of this, $387.12 million, or four times the previous three days, was transferred between August 4 and 10. The remittance shutdown communicated vividly that the diaspora's love for their homeland is not unconditional; the love stopped short of pursuing justice and fairness. While the act brought some hardships to their family, it showed that they are willing to sacrifice for something they believe greater than themselves.
Sacrifice and Solidarity: Stories of Courage
The diaspora's involvement undoubtedly presented a series of challenges. The Abu workers’ courage symbolized the indomitable spirit of expatriates who refused to silence themselves, even when it became personally perilous. These acts of courage were reflected globally. In Irving, Texas, organizers were threatened by the Bangladeshi government with warnings of rejected passport applications. However, they carried on knowing that what they said mattered; each act, whether in a big city or with a handful of people, was a testament to the diaspora's devotion to their motherland. The July Movement marked the opening phase of the diaspora not as a footnote but as the foundation of the revolution, contributions that had bridged distance and diaspora. It was a gentle reminder that patriotism belongs not to people inside or away from its territorial border but to those who carry its light in their hearts. The spirit of Bangladesh still burns brightly, torn, on the streets of Dhaka and as far away as the very corners of this globe. Although payments by diaspora communities provided an overarching effect, long-term activism presented all sorts of difficulties. The diaspora communities fanned many geographic and political contexts, finding it highly improbable to unify or carry on with coordinated efforts. The differences in national laws regulating public protests and other vocations made charity exceedingly tricky.
Historical Parallels and Lessons Learned
The July Movement and the diasporas' involvement drew parallels to earlier instances of transnational activism, such as Bangladesh's liberation war in 1971. Just as the diaspora mobilized and raised awareness and support for their fight against Pakistani rule, so did this July Movement experience the same revival of the spirit of solidarity. The 2024 movement, however, was distinct in this regard. Unlike in 1971, when traditional media was the principal means of communication, the diametrical paradigm shift toward virtual media afforded this diaspora the channel to organize and mobilize on an unprecedented scale. That speaks volumes about how activism has transitioned into the digital era and the potential diasporas have for accomplishing a virtual political change in their homelands. The July Movement also highlighted lessons for the future of transnational activism. The success of the diaspora in using financial pressure with the suspension of remittances demonstrated the potential of using financial leverage to transform conditions. At the same time, it established that careful planning was needed to mitigate damage to vulnerable populations remaining at home.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Love and Resistance
The July Movement of 2024 celebrated the undying strength of love, love for a country, its people, and the ideals it represents. By holding protests and applying economic pressure, the Bangladeshi diaspora opened another chapter of the country's history. They made the world aware that the fight for justice has no borders and that the real test of patriotism is not geographical boundaries but the courage to stand up for what is right. Their contributions will remain in history as Bangladesh sweeps towards an era of hope. Indeed, in their bosom lies a truth as old as that of the Padma River: wherever they might be, they are and will always be sons and daughters of Bangladeshi soil.
About Author
Social Media Editor, The Insighta. he can be reached at jahanshuvo15@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect The Insighta's editorial stance. However, any errors in the stated facts or figures may be corrected if supported by verifiable evidence. | A guest post by
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