# Bangladesh marks second anniversary of the 2024 uprising; exiled Awami League calls it a 'solemn reminder'
> Bangladesh observed the second anniversary of the mass student uprising that removed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2026, with nationwide ceremonies including a Concert for Democracy in Dhaka; exiled Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed called the anniversary a 'solemn reminder of how the country descended into political instability' and pledged the Awami League would restore democracy

**Meta:** type: event · date: 2026-08-05 · heads: Who Decides, The Quiet Shift · 6 takes · 3 lenses · 3 regions

## Summary

[Bangladesh](/en/entity/bangladesh) observed the second anniversary of the student-led uprising that removed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, with ceremonies across the country and a Concert for Democracy held in Dhaka at Suhrawardy Udyan. Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed called the anniversary "a solemn reminder of how the country descended into political instability," pledging the [student-movement-rooted](/en/entity/gen-z-uprisings) Awami League would restore democracy, peace and development. Hasina planned a virtual address to supporters from exile. Bangladesh's government designated August 5 an annual public holiday, Student-People Uprising Day, marking the date as the official founding moment of the post-Hasina political order.

## The split

Wazed's statement represents the exiled Awami League's framing that Hasina's removal was illegitimate and politically destabilising; the party calls the current administration a source of instability rather than democratic renewal. The government under [Tarique Rahman](/en/entity/person/tarique-rahman) and its predecessor caretaker administration under [Muhammad Yunus](/en/entity/muhammad-yunus) frame the date as a democratic breakthrough. Indian media (Tribune India, ANI) reported predominantly through the Awami League lens; Pressenza provided a ground-level account of popular commemoration in Dhaka, emphasising the festive dimension rather than the political contest.

## By the numbers

- 2, years since the August 5, 2024 uprising ousted Hasina
- 1, new annual public holiday designated by Bangladesh's government: Student-People Uprising Day
- 1, virtual address planned by Hasina from exile on the anniversary

## Why it matters

The anniversary tests whether the Awami League can maintain a credible opposition presence from exile. Hasina's ability to address supporters from abroad and Wazed's framing of the current government as destabilising keep the restoration-of-democracy narrative alive and signal that the party intends to contest any future election rather than accept marginalisation.

## What to watch

- Hasina's virtual address content and whether it triggers a government legal response
- Whether the Awami League gains or loses grassroots support through the anniversary mobilisation
- Bangladesh's next elections calendar and whether the current government sets a date

## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens)

### Indian media; leads on Sajeeb Wazed's statement ahead of Sheikh Hasina's planned virtual address on the second anniversary
- **Tribune India** (India, en) — Tribune India reported that Sajeeb Wazed, son and former adviser to Sheikh Hasina, called August 5 'a solemn reminder' of Bangladesh's descent into political instability, pledging the Awami League would continue working to restore democracy, peace and development, ahead of Hasina's virtual address marking the second anniversary.
  > "Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed described the August 5 incident as a solemn reminder of how the country descended into political instability."
  Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/august-5/sheikh-hasinas-son-calls-august-5-solemn-reminder-vows-awami-league-will-restore-democracy

### International peace media; reports on preparations for the Concert for Democracy at Suhrawardy Udyan, noting festive atmosphere alongside heightened security
- **Pressenza** (International, en) — Pressenza reported from Dhaka on preparations for the Concert for Democracy at Suhrawardy Udyan, describing a festive atmosphere alongside strengthened nationwide security as Bangladesh prepared to observe the second anniversary of the mass uprising.
  > "A festive atmosphere alongside strengthened nationwide security marks Bangladesh's preparations to observe the July uprising anniversary with a message of democracy."
  Source: https://www.pressenza.com/2026/08/bangladesh-concert-for-democracy-at-suhrawardy-udyan-to-mark-july-uprising-anniversary-with-a-message-of-democracy/

### unlabelled
- **ANI News** (India, en) — 
  Source: https://aninews.in/news/world/asia/sheikh-hasinas-son-calls-august-5-solemn-reminder-vows-awami-league-will-restore-democracy20260805094014/
- **The Daily Star (Bangladesh)** (Bangladesh, en) — 
  Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/august-5-be-student-people-uprising-day-public-holiday-3920926
- **New Age BD** (Bangladesh, en) — 
  Source: https://www.newagebd.net/post/politics/308776/july-uprising-second-anniv-today
- **New Age BD** (Bangladesh, en) — 
  Source: https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/308787/nation-observes-july-mass-uprising-day

## Across the graph
- Related: [[bangladesh-tarique-rahman-government]], [[bangladesh-bnp-govt-0724]]
- Entities: Bangladesh, Person:tarique Rahman, Muhammad Yunus, Gen Z Uprisings, People Power Ousters

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Canonical: https://rbtfl.xyz/en/n/bangladesh-uprising-anniversary-0805