Every evening, a ‘core committee’ met at former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal’s residence to strategize the suppression of student protests. Participants included top police, military, and intelligence officials, as well as banned student organization Chhatra League’s president Saddam Hossain. Senior army generals joined from July 20 onward. Reports indicate that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her office closely coordinated with security chiefs. On July 14, acting on orders from Obaidul Quader and Saddam Hossain, security forces violently attacked student demonstrators.