Draft:Students Against Oppression
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Students Against Oppression (SAO) is a student-led activist organization based in Bangladesh, known for its work in promoting human rights, resisting authoritarianism, and organizing large-scale student mobilizations. The group rose to national and international prominence during the 2024 student uprising in Bangladesh, where it played a central role in organizing digital resistance and on-the-ground protests.
Background and Formation
[edit]SAO was formed by progressive students at the University of Dhaka with the goal of opposing systemic injustice, censorship, and political repression. Over time, it expanded its presence across other major educational institutions in Bangladesh.
Goals and Activities
[edit]SAO aims to:
- Promote freedom of expression and academic freedom
- Resist state oppression and digital surveillance
- Advocate for the rights of students, women, minorities, and marginalized communities
- Use art, education, and direct action as tools for resistance
The organization operates through democratic, horizontal leadership and regularly conducts workshops, protests, exhibitions, and digital campaigns.
Role in the 2024 Student Uprising
[edit]In July 2024, Bangladesh witnessed a massive student-led protest movement, later dubbed the "July Uprising." SAO played a crucial role in organizing both online and offline activities. According to The Guardian, SAO and other Gen Z-led groups mobilized thousands of students through encrypted networks, protest art, and online messaging campaigns.[1]
The organization’s chairman, Arafat Hossain Bhuiyan, led technical and cyber-activism initiatives that helped bypass internet censorship and surveillance. SAO's contribution was particularly noted for combining traditional protest tactics with modern digital tools.
Media and Global Recognition
[edit]SAO’s activism gained international attention:
- Global Voices highlighted SAO’s role in utilizing resistance art as a form of protest.[2]
- Global Student Forum recognized the movement as a "testament to the power of student protest."[3]
Structure
[edit]SAO is a horizontally-structured organization. Leadership roles rotate democratically. The current chairman (2023–25) is Arafat Hossain Bhuiyan, a graduate of the University of Dhaka.
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Jolly, Joanna (7 August 2024). "'We're not scared': Gen Z protesters take on Bangladesh's powerful political elite". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Resistance art as a weapon in Bangladesh's ongoing student movement". Global Voices. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Bangladesh Students' Victory: A Testament to the Power of Student Protest". Global Student Forum. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2025.