In the summer of 2024, Bangladesh witnessed a historic student uprising that challenged oppression and called for systemic change. While many faces emerged as the public leaders of the movement, an unsung force worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring the movement's survival. One such figure was Rayhan Patoary, a Bangladeshi activist and software engineer residing in Germany, who played a pivotal role as a founding admin of the Facebook page Private University Students Alliance of Bangladesh (PUSAB).

For the first time since the movement, Rayhan Patoary speaks to us about his journey, the betrayals that followed, and the untold story behind the mass protests.

TMA: Rayhan, you played a crucial role in the July 2024 Uprising. How did it all begin?

Rayhan: The groundwork was laid long before July. I had been involved in student activism since my university days at Daffodil International University. When we started PUSAB in 2015, it was meant to be a platform for private university students to voice their concerns. But in July 2024, when the student movement erupted, we knew we had to act.

On July 14, I posted the first update on PUSAB regarding the movement. From then on, we worked day and night to organize students, communicate with leaders, and set the roadmap for the protests. It wasn’t just me—many dedicated individuals contributed, especially Al Mahmud Abir, another PUSAB's Telegram Channel admin from Germany, who played a key role in gathering real-time information.

TMA: The government imposed an internet blackout on July 18. How did you manage to keep the movement alive?

Rayhan: That was a major challenge. When the internet was cut off, I became the sole admin of PUSAB’s page. We had to rely on direct SIM-to-SIM calls and encrypted messaging apps to communicate with student leaders on the ground. Me and Abir maintained contact with students leading protests in Uttara, Mirpur, Badda, Bashundhara and Savar, including Rafi Patwary (GUB), Faisal Mahmud (UU), Fantasir Mahmud (BUFT), Labib Muhannad (DIU), Arifin Rafi (BRACU), Ahmed Samran (NSU), Masud Al Mahdi (AIUB), Naimul Islam(Daffodil) , Tibro(Daffodil) and many more. Others, like Aiman Nur from the UK and Mahbub and Taleb from Germany, helped relay information to us. Despite the blackout, we ensured that accurate reports reached the outside world.

TMA: You coined the movement’s defining goal: “Remove the Perpetrator.” How did that come about?

Rayhan: By July 19, it was clear that vague demands wouldn’t be enough. The students needed a clear objective. “Remove the Perpetrator” became the rallying cry, ensuring that accountability was at the heart of our struggle. At the same time, we strengthened our security , Abir arranged extra SIM cards and secured communication channels to protect key organizers.

TMA: The government attempted to pacify the movement on July 21 by reforming the quota system. Why did you oppose negotiations?

Rayhan: Because it was a trap. The so-called reforms were meant to divide us and weaken the momentum. Some leaders considered stopping the protests, but after intense discussions with our full team, we made it clear: no negotiations behind closed doors. On July 21, we officially called for a mass uprising, ensuring that our movement didn’t lose steam. As internet access briefly returned, our messages spread rapidly, forcing the government to rethink its tactics.

TMA: The movement faced betrayals from within. Can you tell us about that?

Rayhan: On July 27, an admin named Fuad was arrested due to his role as an admin of another Facebook group. Authorities suspect he may have been involved in a movement, though there is no clear evidence against him. When me and Abir managed to communicate with his family, they were deeply worried and confused, as he had not participated in any rallies or activities that could warrant such an arrest. They are struggling to understand why he has been detained despite having done nothing wrong, though later he got released due to his connections with a government official.

Another admin, Tanjil, panicked and fled to Nepal. I personally arranged costs for his travel with help of Mahbub Ullah Khan Masum and ensured his safety. Zakaria applied for a passport renewal and was preparing to leave the country. He urged me to remain cautious and not to be too aggressive. The other admins moved to a safe location, fearing that the security forces had gained access to the admin panel information. Despite these challenges, we remained steadfast, maintaining critical communication with students and activists.

But after the movement’s success, internal power struggles emerged. Zakaria, the original creator of PUSAB, along with Tanjil and others, tried to rewrite history. They wanted to claim full credit and sidelined those who worked hardest, including Abir, Labib, Naim, Rafi, Tibro, Arifin, Samran , Fantasir , Sahriar and many others.

On August 17, Tanjil returned from Nepal and aligned himself with DU-based student leaders, misrepresenting PUSAB as the sole leader of private university students. Worse, his friend Tahsin Riaz falsely declared himself the official spokesperson of PUSAB on BBC. Their goal was to negotiate with the DU leaders for personal gain. On September 22, Zakaria removed me as an admin, erasing my contributions from public view.

TMA: You challenged them publicly. What happened after that?

Rayhan: I exposed their opportunism on Facebook, demanding a public debate with Zakaria, Tanjil, and Tahsin. But soon after, my Facebook account was repeatedly disabled, likely due to targeted cyber-attacks. we extended support to those who genuinely sought mediation, but unfortunately, they ended up spreading propaganda instead of working towards a resolution. They wanted to silence me, to rewrite the movement’s history in their favor. But the truth cannot be buried. 

TMA: What were the roles of the other admins throughout this movement? Could you provide some insights into their contributions?

Rayhan: We had a total of 12 admins managing the page. All of them had completed their studies many years ago. I believe most of them were willing to contribute significantly, but the circumstances were not in their favor. With families and children to care for, many had understandable concerns for their safety. However, as mentioned earlier, a group of current students stepped in to fill this gap, operating outside the admin panel.

From the 14th to the 18th, Zakaria, Tanjil, Fuad, and Nawshad actively posted on the page alongside me. While I was trying to connect students , giving some direction and receiving messages in the inbox, these admins worked in parallel to ensure continuous updates. During this period, 2-3 of our admins were not active on the page, and some of them was completely out of contact for many years.

On 26^th of July, I was finally able to establish proper contact with our other two important admins, Tanjil and Zakaria. They began reaching out to me, and I did my best to stay in touch while ensuring their safety, knowing that the situation me and my activist team had created might put the full admin panel at risk. Fortunately, as the situation appeared to improve slightly that day, both of them were able to post some updates, until Fuad was arrested. From August 2nd, Jakaria maintained regular communication with me and shared various posts and videos related to his hometown, for posting on the page. However, most of the content was unrelated to private universities, as he had no known activists at the time to provide relevant information.

Tanjil maintained irregular communication, attributing it to internet issues in Nepal and the need to spend time with his wife, who was accompanying him. He expressed his intention to seek political asylum and had no plans to return to the country. Given his situation, I suggested that he make some posts on the page, as it could potentially support his asylum request. He agreed and contributed by sharing updates on August 2nd while also assisting me in drafting content based on our phone discussions. His support during this time was truly invaluable. 

TMA: How do you see the legacy of the July Uprising?

Rayhan: The movement was bigger than any individual or organization. It was about the students, the people, and their collective power. While some may enjoy temporary recognition, history will remember the true architects of change. My hope is that future generations of activists learn from this experience—never let opportunists hijack your struggles.

TMA: What’s next for you?

Rayhan: I remain committed to justice. My fight is not over. I may not be in Bangladesh, but I will continue to work toward a better future for my country. No amount of betrayal can change the truth.

Final Thoughts

Rayhan Patoary’s story is a reminder that revolutions aren’t just about those who stand in the limelight, but also about those who work behind the scenes, ensuring that voices of the oppressed are heard. Though he was betrayed and silenced, his legacy in the July Uprising remains undeniable. While the world may forget names, history never forgets the truth.