Nahid Islam: Student who kept movement alive against Hasina’s govt in Bangladesh

By Nauman Yasin 

Dhaka: The movement of the students staged nationwide protests and forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed to resign on Monday.

The protests which turned violent claimed over 300 people in Bangladesh after the government led by Sheikh Hasina Wazed ordered crackdown against the protesting students.

The students faced many hurdles and obstacles during the protests, bear baton charge and bullet but they did not give up their struggle against Hasina’s government.

The state authorities under Hasina also termed them “terrorists” and ordered to use the state machinery against them in a bid to foil their movement.

However, the protests gained more momentum by every passing day until the army establishment asked former PM Hasina to resign within 45 minutes.

The movement by the students which caused removal of Hasina and her cabinet however raised a question as who was behind it.

The media reports unveiled that it was Nahid Islam who led the movement against Hasina’s government over jobs’ quota system.

Nahid is a 26 years old young man who is a student of Society at Dhaka University. He is also known for his work as a human rights activist.

Nahid Islam raised his voice against Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League, on which he was termed as a street terrorist.

 On July 19, 2024, Nahid Islam was abducted from a house in Sabz Bagh by at least 25 people dressed in plain clothes. The student was blindfolded and questioned about his involvement in the protests. He was also handcuffed and tortured.

Nahid Islam was found unconscious under a bridge two days later while on July 26, 2024, he was abducted for the second time by the government officials.

Born in Dhaka in 1998 and got married, he has a younger brother while his father is a teacher and mother is a housewife.

Reuters while reporting Geography Student Naqeeb Isam reported that Nahid had incredible talent and always said the country needed to change. He said that he was picked up by the police, tortured until he was unconscious and then they threw him on the road. Despite all that Nahid continued to fight.

“We are sure he will not give up, and we are proud of him,” said Naqeeb while talking to Reuters.

It may be mentioned here that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Hasina Wazed fled the country on Monday after a month-long public protest after which the army announced formation of an interim government as soon as it took over.