- Nahid Islam, a 26-year-old sociology student, initiated a movement against job quotas that evolved into a nationwide call for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years.
- The movement demanding Hasina’s step-down attracted significant attention following the police’s detention of Islam and fellow students during violent protests.
- Nearly 300 individuals lost their lives in the ensuing turmoil, which only came to an end when Hasina resigned and sought refuge in India, leading to the establishment of an interim government.
Known for often appearing in public with a Bangladeshi flag across his forehead, Nahid Islam is a soft-spoken sociology student who led the protests resulting in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after 15 consecutive years in leadership.
At the age of 26, Islam coordinated a student campaign against government job quotas, which transformed into a demand for Hasina’s resignation. His prominence surged in mid-July when he and several other students from Dhaka University were arrested amid escalating protests.
In the violent weeks that followed, approximately 300 people were killed, with many being students, and the unrest subsided only after Hasina fled to India on Monday following her resignation.
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On Tuesday at noon (0600 GMT), Islam and other student leaders were scheduled to meet with army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who announced Hasina’s resignation and stated that an interim government would be established.
Asif Mahmud, Nahid Islam, and Abu Bakar Majumder, student leaders of the movement against job quotas that escalated to a call for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, issue a statement in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in this photo released on Aug. 6, 2024. (Asif Mahmud Via Facebook/via REUTERS/File Photo)
Islam, who expresses himself in a calm but assertive manner, has stated that the students will not accept any regime supported or constituted by the military and have suggested that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus serve as the chief advisor.
“We will not endorse any government aside from the one we propose,” he expressed in a Facebook post early on Tuesday.
On Monday, alongside other student leaders, Islam, with a beard and a sturdy build, told reporters: “We will honor the sacrifices made by the martyrs for our purpose.”
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“We will strive to establish a new democratic Bangladesh that pledges protection of life, social justice, and a transformed political environment.”
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina interacting with reporters in Dhaka on December 31, 2018. Protesters stormed Hasina’s official residence on Monday, forcing her to flee to neighboring India. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File)
He declared his commitment to prevent Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million, from reverting to what he termed “Fascist rule” and urged fellow students to safeguard the Hindu minority and their sacred sites.
Born in Dhaka in 1998, Islam is married and has a younger brother named Nakib. His father is a teacher while his mother manages the household.
“He possesses remarkable resilience and has always emphasized the need for change in the country,” remarked Nakib Islam, a geography student, in an interview with Reuters. “He was arrested, tortured to unconsciousness, then left on the street. Nevertheless, he continues to fight. We have faith in his determination. We are proud of him.”
Protesters setting fire to a shopping center during a rally demanding justice for victims killed in the recent deadly clashes against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)
Sabrina Karim, an associate professor of government at Cornell University who focuses on political violence, described Monday as a pivotal moment for Bangladesh.
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“This could potentially mark the first successful revolution led by Gen Z,” she stated. “There is a glimmer of hope for a move toward democracy, even if the military is involved in the transition.”
