Following weeks of fatal student-led protests in Bangladesh that led to the downfall of the autocratic leader, pupils at a school in the capital, Dhaka, paid tribute to their deceased friend upon their return to class. Shafiq Uddin Ahmed Ahnaf, aged 17, was fatally shot while participating in the demonstrations earlier this month. Despite ongoing political uncertainties in Bangladesh, two weeks after the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina escaped to India, the resumption of schools on Sunday indicated a return to normalcy in daily life. The majority of the 450 fatalities during the protests, which culminated in Hasina's removal on August 5, were students similar to Ahnaf. On Sunday, marking the first day back since the turmoil, Ahnaf's peers placed a bouquet on his desk, as reported by Dhaka media. Mazeda Begum, principal of another public school in Dhaka, noted that students were eager to resume classes "after enduring a month-long ordeal." Begum is organizing a cultural event "to help them regain their mental fortitude." Her colleague, English teacher Riah Hyder, postponed her vacation to support the reopening of classes, stating, "Ensuring students return to school is our top priority." Many students expressed admiration for the protesters' "bravery." Sixteen-year-old Mahiba Hossain Rahee, with her hair neatly tied and dressed in a blue uniform, said, "I'm proud of them for being courageous enough to protest against corruption." Rahee recounted sleepless nights worrying about her country during the protests, hoping for positive change. "We don't want more bloodshed; we aspire for a joyful nation," she added. Tenth-grader Naifa Tahin, who spent weeks confined in her Dhaka home, described returning to school as akin to coming home. The 16-year-old was thrilled to resume learning and reunite with friends, voicing hope for a brighter future for their country. "For the past few weeks, we couldn't return to school or see our classmates, which caused a sense of restlessness," Tahin explained. "Finally being back feels wonderful, like coming home." Bangladesh's interim leader, 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has returned from Europe to undertake the significant challenge of guiding democratic reforms in a nation plagued by institutional deterioration. "Currently, all we can do is remain patient," Tahin remarked. "Our country is in the process of rebuilding, much like a newborn baby."