July uprising 2024 in Bangladesh: Reimagining the repertoire of contention

In July 2024, Bangladesh experienced a major Gen-Z-led uprising over the government’s quota system. Drawing on Charles Tilly’s repertoire of contention framework, this paper analyzes how protestors adapted collective action tactics under repression. Our methodology combines archival analysis of news reports (from 1 July 2024–5 August 2024) with qualitative fieldwork (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with student activists and community members). Results show that the movement employed a range of repertoires: it began with traditional nonviolent marches and university sit-ins, then escalated to innovative tactics such as nationwide road blockades (the ‘Bangla Blockade’) and a complete nationwide shutdown. These tactics combined cultural symbols (echoing Bangladesh’s liberation struggle) with new digital mobilization. Crucially, protesters from all backgrounds, not just Gen-Z students, joined these actions. The study thus reveals how established repertoires were repurposed and expanded by the July Uprising 2025 in Bangladesh.