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Nahid Islam
Bangladeshi politician and activist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Muhammad Nahid Islam (Bengali: মো. নাহিদ ইসলাম; born 28 April 1998) is a Bangladeshi politician, activist and founding convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP). He was the central key coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, which led the July Revolution, culminating in prime minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. He also served as an adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh between August 2024 and February 2025.
Born in 1998, Nahid got involved with politics while attending the University of Dhaka. After government job quota system was reinstated in 2024, he became the central key coordinator of Students Against Discrimination and led 2024 quota reform movement. He came to national attention when he was abducted, tortured and detained by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Following his release, he declared the one-point demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 3 August 2024, thus becoming the most prominent face of Bangladesh's July Revolution.[1][2][3]
After the resignation of Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024, Nahid became an adviser of the newly formed interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on 8 August and held two ministries.[4] He resigned from the council of advisers in late February 2025 and became the founding convener of the National Citizen Party on 28 February 2025.[5]
Nahid was named on the Time 100 Next list in 2024.[6][7]
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Early life and education
Muhammad Nahid Islam[8] was born in Dhaka on 28 April 1998.[9][10] His father is a teacher and his mother is a homemaker. He studied at the Department of Sociology at the University of Dhaka.[11] His bachelor thesis was on the causes behind the failure of student movements in Bangladesh.[1]
Student activism
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Early activism
As a first year university student in 2017, Nahid protested against a coal-fired power plant close to Sundarbans. In 2019, he formed a student organization called Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti (lit. 'Democratic Student Force') in the University of Dhaka along with his peers and was a central leader of this organization.[1][12]
July Revolution
Nahid became a coordinator for the Students Against Discrimination, which organized protests advocating for quota reforms in government jobs. The movement later expanded into a non-cooperation campaign demanding the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and her government.[13]
Abduction and detainment
Nahid gained national attention in mid-July 2024 when he and five other coordinators were detained by the Detective Branch (DB) as the protests escalated.[14] At midnight on 19 July 2024, he was reportedly taken from a house in Sabujbagh by approximately 25 men in plain clothing.[15][16] He was blindfolded, handcuffed, and transported to a location where he was questioned about his involvement in the student movement and subjected to mistreatment. On 21 July he was found unconscious and injured under a bridge in Purbachal.[15] On July 26, he was apprehended at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi by individuals identifying themselves as members of various intelligence agencies, including the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's DB.[17]
The DB later confirmed that they had taken Nahid and five other coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination into custody for "safety reasons".[18] Subsequently, Nahid and other coordinators issued a statement from the DB headquarters urging the protesters to call off the demonstrations, citing that the movement's main objective of reforming the quotas had been achieved.[19] However, Nahid later clarified that he had been coerced into making the statement.[20]
Fall of Sheikh Hasina and aftermath
Shortly afterwards, Nahid delivered the one-point demand on behalf of students involved in the movement demanding Hasina's resignation.[6] Following the resignation and departure of Hasina to India, Nahid stated that their objectives were not fully achieved. The group then aimed to "abolish fascist systems forever" and called on Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government, which Yunus agreed to.[21]
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Career
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Adviser of the interim government
Nahid and fellow activist Asif Mahmud joined the interim government and took the oath with most other advisers on 8 August 2024. The next day, he was appointed in-change of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology. Subsequently, on 16 August 2024, he was also assigned the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.[22][23]
During his tenure as the Adviser of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology in Bangladesh's interim government, Nahid Islam initiated several reforms aimed at enhancing the country's digital infrastructure and accessibility. Recognizing the challenges faced by over half of the population lacking mobile network access, Nahid prioritized expanding connectivity to underserved regions.[24]
Under his supervision, the ministry focused on reducing mobile service taxes, which had been a barrier to wider internet access, especially for low-income households. These efforts aimed to promote digital inclusion and bridge the digital divide within the country.[24] Nahid's tenure also emphasized the need for regulatory reforms to foster a more competitive and transparent telecommunications sector. Collaborating with stakeholders, he advocated for policies that would attract foreign investment and encourage innovation in the ICT industry.[24]
As the Adviser of Information and Broadcasting, Nahid presided over the establishment of the Bangladesh Film Certification Board, based on long-standing demands from filmmakers.[25]
His contributions during this period were recognized internationally, with his inclusion in Time magazine's Time 100 Next 2024 list, highlighting emerging leaders shaping the future across various fields.[26]
Convener of National Citizen Party
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Nahid resigned as an adviser on February 25 to be the convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), with the affiliation of Students Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee.[27] In 28 February, he was officially designated as the convener of new party.
In his inaugural speech, Nahid declared that there would be no place for pro-India or pro-Pakistan politics in Bangladesh and acknowledged that his party would focus on the national interests of Bangladeshi people with a self-reliant economy.[28] He also outlined his party's goal to establish a "new democratic constitution" for the "second republic".[29]
In March 2025, it was reported that Nahid could run for either Dhaka-9 or Dhaka-11 in the next general election.[30]
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References
External links
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