Nahid Islam, a soft-spoken sociology student often seen with a Bangladeshi flag tied across his forehead, has become a national figure. As the coordinator of the student movement against quotas in government jobs, Islam, 26, played a pivotal role in the campaign that led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation after 15 years in power.
The movement, which began as a protest against job quotas, escalated into a broader oust-Hasina campaign. Islam gained national attention in mid-July when he and other Dhaka University students were detained by police during violent protests. The unrest resulted in nearly 300 deaths, many of whom were college and university students, and only subsided after Hasina fled to India on Monday.
Meeting with the Army Chief
Islam and other student leaders are scheduled to meet with General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, at noon (0600 GMT) on Tuesday. General Zaman announced Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim government. Islam has stated that the students will not accept any government led or supported by the army. Instead, they have proposed Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser.
“Any government other than the one we recommended would not be accepted,” Islam declared in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Vision for a New Bangladesh
On Monday, Islam, flanked by other student leaders, addressed reporters with determination. “We won’t betray the blood shed by the martyrs for our cause,” he stated. “We will create a new democratic Bangladesh through our promise of security of life, social justice, and a new political landscape.”
Islam emphasized the need to protect the country’s Hindu minority and their places of worship. Born in Dhaka in 1998, Islam is married and has a younger brother, Nakib, who is also a student. His father is a teacher, and his mother is a homemaker.
Family and Support
Nakib Islam, a geography student, expressed pride in his brother. “He has incredible stamina and always said the country needed to change,” Nakib said. “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.”
Historic Day for Bangladesh
Sabrina Karim, an associate professor of government at Cornell University specialising in political violence, described Monday as a historic day for Bangladesh. “This might very well be the first successful Gen Z-led revolution,” she said. “There is perhaps some optimism for a democratic transition even if the military is involved in the process.”
With Inputs from Reuters
