Meet Nahid Islam, a student who led protests to oust Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina

A 26-year-old student leader Nahid Islam, who led nationwide protests against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been identified as a key figure in the movement that forced Hasina to resign and flee to India.

Islam, a sociology student at Dhaka University and human rights activist, has been making headlines for his courageous stand against Hasina's government in Bangladesh.

According to foreign media reports, Nahid Islam was instrumental in mobilising protests against Hasina's government and her party, Awami League.

A day earlier, Hasina Wajid resigned after weeks of violent protests against the quota system for government jobs in the country.

The former ruler and her sister had fled to India from the Prime Minister's official residence.

Following the resignation, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said that an interim government would run the country.

However, Islam rejected the Army Chief's decision and said the students would not accept any government led or supported by the military.

In a video posted on his Facebook account, he proposed that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus be the chief adviser.

"Any government other than the one we recommended would not be accepted. We won't betray the blood shed by the martyrs for our cause.

"We will create a new democratic Bangladesh through our promise of security of life, social justice and a new political landscape."

Islam rose to fame after he was first abducted on July 19, 2024, by at least 25 people in plain clothes. He was found unconscious under a bridge two days later. 

In a second incident on July 26, 2024, he was abducted again by government officials.

"He has incredible stamina and always said the country needed to change. 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. Proud of him," Nakib Islam, a geography student, told Reuters.

Bangladeshis had been protesting for almost a month against the controversial quota system in government jobs.

Later, the country's Supreme Court abolished the law, accepting students' demand, however, the protesters sought Hasina's resignation.

Nearly 300 people, mostly college and university students, were also killed by Bangladeshi forces during the deadly protests.