The Students Who Shook a Nation: How Three Individuals Led to Sheikh Hasina's Resignation

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign following anti-reservation protests launched by students. She has also been forced to flee the country and take refuge in India. For whom did the powerful Hasina, who was Prime Minister for 20 years, have to resign and leave the country?

Surprisingly, Sheikh Hasina is facing this terrible danger for only three students. Let's find out who are these three students who brought down the challenge for Hasina.

Nahid Islam

Nahid Islam is currently a student at the Department of Sociology at Dhaka University. The movement was started by Nahid after the restoration of 30 percent quota for the descendants of freedom fighters and gradually people started joining it. Nahid has been vocal against Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League and has been calling them "terrorists" deployed on the streets. Addressing the protesters in Shahbagh, he declared that the students have "picked up sticks today" and are ready to "take up arms" if the sticks do not work. On 19 July 2024, Nahid Islam was abducted by at least 25 people in plain clothes from a house in Sabujbagh. He was blindfolded, handcuffed and tortured during repeated interrogations about his involvement in the protests. Two days later, he was found unconscious and injured under a bridge in Purbachal. Nahid Islam was abducted for the second time on 26 July 2024 from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi. He was taken away by persons claiming to be from various intelligence agencies, including the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. However, the police have denied any involvement.

Asif Mahmud

Asif Mahmud is a student of language studies at Dhaka University. He became part of the nationwide movement against reservation that started in June. Asif was also among those detained by the Detective Branch on 26 July. He was also detained from the hospital during treatment. Security reasons were also cited behind Asif's detention.

Abu Bakar Majumdar

Abu Bakar Majumdar is also a participant in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power. He is a student of the Geography Department at Dhaka University. According to The Front Line Defender, he also works on civil rights and human rights. After the High Court decided on the reservation on June 5, Bakar along with his friends started the Students Against Discrimination Movement. He strongly opposed giving reservations in government jobs to the relatives of 'freedom fighters'. Now it remains to be seen what these three will do in Bangladesh in the coming times. However, it is certain that from the army to the next government, everyone will think a hundred times before confronting them and ignoring what they say.