Drones Depict Dissent: Shahbagh Sky Illuminated with July Uprising Narratives
In a dazzling midnight spectacle on July 14, the Dhaka sky above the Central Shaheed Minar lit up with a powerful retelling of the July Uprising. In an awe-inspiring display featuring 2,000 drones, the narrative of public resistance and student-led rebellion against the ousted Awami League regime was brought to life through light, movement, and symbolism.
The half-hour-long musical Drone Show, organized jointly by the governments of Bangladesh and China, presented stirring visual portrayals of state oppression, enforced disappearances, and martyrs like Ilias Ali, Brigadier General Azmi, and Michael Chakma. Also illuminated were memories of the Shapla massacre and the killing of Abrar Fahad, evoking both outrage and remembrance.
The show spotlighted pivotal figures from the uprising, including the first martyr Abu Said and the symbolic image of Tanvir, reportedly tortured by Chhatra League members on July 15. Veiled women protesting on the streets were depicted in a dramatic “Awaz Uda” (Raise the Voice) call, symbolizing defiance in the face of repression.
Spinning through the air, the drones projected themes like “Days of Subjugation”, a caricature of the Election Commission as a burden on Sheikh Hasina’s back, and stark visuals titled “State-Sanctioned Loot” and “Lailatul Election”. The narrative further paid homage to female protestors by visually honoring Tanvi, symbolizing countless abused students who resisted the ruling forces.
Thousands of female students from the University of Dhaka and other institutions watched the spectacle in solemn admiration. The light revolution turned the night into a canvas of courage, sacrifice, and collective memory.
The show also revived critical slogans and controversial quotes that marked the resistance era. Sheikh Hasina’s ridiculing remark — “So, will the grandchildren of Razakars get jobs now?” — was answered by students' resounding chant: “Who are you? Who am I? Razakar! Razakar!” Other references included the chilling warning, “Delete your post or face consequences,” echoing the digital surveillance and fear of that time. The drone display culminated with the uprising’s resounding ethos: “Motherland or martyrdom.”
Against the backdrop of the rousing theme song “Mora Jhonjhar Moto Uddam”, the show also incorporated defiant slogans such as “Shono Mohajon, Amra Onekjon” and “Amar Bhai Kobore, Khuni Keno Bahire.” Moved by the vivid reenactment, students and spectators echoed old chants, reliving the days of resistance.
University officials stated that the primary aim of the drone show was to honor and memorialize the brave role of women in the July 2024 uprising. It was on that fateful night of July 14 that female students of Dhaka University broke open their hall gates and led the charge that would soon evolve into a defining chapter in Bangladesh’s political history.
