Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement on this day. The tremors were felt soon in the city, also apprehensive about a Japanese invasion.
Protests began in the country on August 9, when Gandhi and other top national leaders were arrested. On August 10, Calcutta and Dhaka saw student demonstrations. The protests were widespread by August 13, with students taking the lead in Calcutta. The city and its suburbs felt the impact of the protests. In Howrah, workers joined the students. The protesters cut off telephone and electric wires. Tram cars were held and the trolley ropes cut. The students did not often face resistance from the tram drivers. As the protests turned more violent, police forces were fully mobilised.
On August 14, two persons died in police firing. The protests would spread to rural Bengal, most notably in Midnapore, where the protests were marked by Matangini Hajra’s martyrdom.
Dhaka would continue to be turbulent, too.