In the summer of mid-July, a 26-year-old sociology student from Dhaka University, Nahid Islam, emerged as a key figure in the protests that led to the resignation of Bangladesh‘s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after a 15-year tenure. Recognised nationally for his leadership, Islam and his fellow students were arrested by police during these demonstrations against the government which ultimately led to a rise in his popularity.
The protests, which began as a movement against quotas in government jobs, escalated into a campaign to remove Hasina from power.The violence claimed the lives of nearly 300 people, mostly college and university students, and only subsided when Hasina stepped down and sought refuge in India on Monday.
On Tuesday, Islam and other student leaders were scheduled to meet with army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who had announced Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim government.
Islam has been firm in his stance that the students will not accept any government led or supported by the military, and has suggested that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus be appointed as the chief adviser. In a Facebook post, he stated, “Any government other than the one we recommended would not be accepted.”
Who is Nahid Islam?
Born in Dhaka in 1998, Islam is married and has a younger brother named Nakib. His father is a teacher, and his mother is a homemaker. Nakib Islam, a geography student, praised his brother’s resilience, saying, “He has incredible stamina and always said the country needed to change. He was picked up by the police, tortured until he was unconscious, and then dumped on the road. Despite all this, he continues to fight. We have confidence that he will not give up. Proud of him.”
Islam has pledged to create a new democratic Bangladesh, ensuring the safety of its citizens, social justice, and a fresh political landscape. He has also vowed to prevent the country from returning to what he termed as “Fascist rule” and has called upon fellow students to safeguard the Hindu minority and their places of worship.
The protests, which began as a movement against quotas in government jobs, escalated into a campaign to remove Hasina from power.The violence claimed the lives of nearly 300 people, mostly college and university students, and only subsided when Hasina stepped down and sought refuge in India on Monday.
On Tuesday, Islam and other student leaders were scheduled to meet with army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who had announced Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim government.
Islam has been firm in his stance that the students will not accept any government led or supported by the military, and has suggested that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus be appointed as the chief adviser. In a Facebook post, he stated, “Any government other than the one we recommended would not be accepted.”
Who is Nahid Islam?
Born in Dhaka in 1998, Islam is married and has a younger brother named Nakib. His father is a teacher, and his mother is a homemaker. Nakib Islam, a geography student, praised his brother’s resilience, saying, “He has incredible stamina and always said the country needed to change. He was picked up by the police, tortured until he was unconscious, and then dumped on the road. Despite all this, he continues to fight. We have confidence that he will not give up. Proud of him.”
Islam has pledged to create a new democratic Bangladesh, ensuring the safety of its citizens, social justice, and a fresh political landscape. He has also vowed to prevent the country from returning to what he termed as “Fascist rule” and has called upon fellow students to safeguard the Hindu minority and their places of worship.
