Dhaka, July 18 -- The most pivotal date in the movement for me was July 14, when students in the 5 women's halls of Dhaka University broke their locks and came out, just hours after Sheikh Hasina's infamous 'Rajakar' comment. They came out around 11pm, soon to be joined by students from the men's halls, and later by students around the country. Me and my brother Murad were working to compile the reports coming in from our campus correspondents.

The first injuries inflicted by Chhatra League during the movement were also on this night - at Chittagong University. The next day (July 15th) they would wreak havoc on the DU campus, setting the government and protesters on two paths that would never be reconciled.

The night was pivotal not onl...