Anti-discrimination Students Movement (Bengali: বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলন, romanized: Bôiṣômyôbirōdhī Chātrô Āndōlôn) is a politically non-affiliated group of student activists in Bangladesh formed in 2024 during the nationwide student-led quota reform movement. The group has been credited for the ousting of the country's autocratic former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024 through the 2024 non-cooperation movement.[7]
বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলন | |
| Formation | 1 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Type | Student activist |
| Purpose | Reformism[1] Egalitarianism[2] Social justice[3] Assisting the interim government[4][5][6] |
| Headquarters | Varied |
| Location | |
Coordinators | See the § Members section |
History
editThe organisation was created on 1 July 2024. On 8 July 2024, it announced a 65-member committee, comprising 23 coordinators and 42 co-coordinators, to make the movement a success after its creation.[8][9] On 3 August, after the agitation grew in scale, the group formed a 158-member coordination team with students from various educational institutions, of which 49 were coordinators and 109 were co-coordinators.[10][11]
Since its inception, several coordinators have been seen at the helm of this group. Among them are Nahid Islam, Rifat Rashid, student of International Relations Department of University of Dhaka, Sarjis Alam, student of Botany Department, Hasnat Abdullah, Asif Mahmud and Abu Bakr Majumdar of English Department, Arif Sohel, student of Jahangirnagar University and others.[12]
The protesters under the banner of "anti-discrimination student movement" had continuously organised four-point demands in 1 July 2024, in support of civil service reservation quota reform in Bangladesh. From July 2 to 6, students of various institutions held protests, human chains, highway blockades, etc. in different parts of the country. On July 7, students called for the Bangla Blockade under the banner of anti-discrimination student movement, under which students staged demonstrations, marches, civil disobedience and blockades of highways and railways.[13]
One of the group's coordinators, Abu Sayed of Rangpur's Begum Rokeya University, was shot and killed by the police on 16 July 2024.[14]
The group led a nationwide students and public uprising against the dictatorial Awami League regime led by Hasina and successfully pushed her to resign on 5 August 2024. On 8 August 2024, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, two members of the group were appointed as advisers in the interim government led by the Yunus ministry.[15] After the Yunus interim government took the responsibility of Bangladesh's administration, the group announced a liaison committee to work on the new political arrangement.[16] On the same day, it announced a new coordination team.[17] As of August 2024, members of the organisation were suggesting the formation of a political party within a month.[18]
Members
edit| Name | Post |
|---|---|
| Nahid Islam | Coordinator[15] |
| Sarjis Alam | Coordinator[19] |
| Rifat Rashid | Coordinator[20] |
| Hasnat Abdullah | Coordinator[21] |
| Asif Mahmud | Coordinator[22] |
| Abu Sayed | Coordinator[23] |
| Abu Baker Majumder | Coordinator[20] |
| Abdul Hannan Masud | Coordinator[24] |
| Arif Shohel | Coordinator[24] |
| Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi | Coordinator[25] |
| Nusrat Tabassum | Coordinator[26] |
See also
edit- 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement – Anti-government student movement in Bangladesh
- Non-cooperation movement (2024) – Pro-democratic mass uprising against the government of Bangladesh
References
edit- ^ Report, Star Digital (31 August 2024). "Students' movement working to build an inclusive society". The Daily Star. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Students put forward four- point demand". The Daily Star. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ Karim, Wara (21 August 2024). "Non-resident Bangladeshi voices in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement". The Daily Star. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Liaison Committee to help interim government". Dhaka Tribune. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ Pathi, Krutika; Ganguly, Shonal (14 August 2024). "Students who ousted Hasina are helping lead Bangladesh, from the streets to the ministries". AP International. WDHN. Associated Press. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "50 injured as Ansars clash with students". The Daily Star. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ Chowdhury, Jennifer. "The victory of Bangladesh's student movement should not surprise anyone". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement forms 158-member coordination team". The Business Standard. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Hasnat, Saif; Mashal, Mujib. "Roaring Back After Crackdown, Bangladesh Protesters Demand Leader's Ouster". The New York Times.
- ^ "'Students Against Discrimination' forms 158-member coordination team". Prothomalo. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ ডেস্ক, প্রথম আলো (3 August 2024). "বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের ১৫৮ সদস্যের সমন্বয়ক দল গঠন". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "কোটা আন্দোলন: নেতৃত্বের কৌশল ও ছাত্ররা সংগঠিত হলো যেভাবে". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). 12 July 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "আজ ক্যাম্পাসে ধর্মঘট, সড়কে 'বাংলা ব্লকেড' | প্রথম আলো". 7 July 2024. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Student in Rangpur killed during clash between police and protesters". The Business Standard. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ a b "From students to youngest-ever advisers". The Daily Star. 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Student movement leaders form liaison committee to work on new political arrangement after govt formation". The Business Standard. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Announcement of new coordination team for Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on hold: Coordinators". The Business Standard. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Bangladesh student protesters plan new party to cement their revolution". Reuters. 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Sarjis congratulates advisers Nahid, Asif". Somoy TV. 9 August 2024.
- ^ a b "3 missing coordinators of anti-discriminatory student movement found". Prothom Alo. 25 July 2024.
- ^ "'Cooperate with law enforcement, maintain good relations with journos': Anti-quota movement coordinator sets guidelines". The Business Standard. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Who is student leader Asif Mahmud? Explainer". The Financial Express. 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Dr Yunus to visit Abu Sayed's home on Saturday". Dhaka Tribune. 9 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Four new teams formed to rebuild Anti-discrimination Student Movement". The Financial Express. 19 August 2024.
- ^ "BCL man 'threatens' CU quota protest leader". The Daily Star. 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Nusrat Tabassum: 'I want to be the voice of the masses'". The Business Standard. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.