Wikipedia

Hasnat Abdullah

Hasnat Abdullah (Bengali: হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ) is a Bangladeshi politician, activist,[1] and former convener of the Students Against Discrimination,[2][3] which led the Student–People's uprising in 2024.[4][5] He has been the Chief Organizer (Southern Region) of the National Citizen Party since 2025.[6][7][8]

Hasnat Abdullah
হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ
Abdullah in 2025
Chief Organizer (Southern) of National Citizen Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 October 2024
ConvenerNahid Islam
Preceded byPosition established
Personal details
Born (1998-02-28) 28 February 1998 (age 27)
Debidwar, Comilla, Bangladesh
PartyNational Citizen Party
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka
Occupation
Known forCo-ordinator of the Students Against Discrimination
MovementsStudent–People's uprising

Early life and Education

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Abdullah was born on 28 February 1998, Debidwar, Comilla. He is a graduate of the English department at the University of Dhaka.[9][10]

Activism

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Abdullah was one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, which led the initial quota reform movement opposing quotas in government jobs and evolved into broader anti-government movement opposing the Hasina government.[11] He, along with Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Sarjis Alam and others gained national recognition in mid-July 2024 when police detained him and several other University of Dhaka students [12] as the protests became violent.[13][14]

In the aftermath, On August 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country after resigning.[15] Following the exile of Hasina, Nahid Islam stated that their goals weren't fully met and that the Anti-discrimination Students Movement aimed to "abolish fascist systems forever".[16]

He and his organisation called on Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government.[17][18]

Political career

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Following the mass uprising in July 2024, the National Citizen Party (NCP) was officially launched on February 28, 2025, with Hasnat Abdullah as its Chief Organizer (Southern Region).[6]

On 10 May 2025, Hasnat Abdullah called for a protest to permanently ban the Awami League.[19]

Hasnat will contest in 2026 general election from Comilla-4 constituency.[20]

Controversies

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Layoffs at Somoy Television

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On 24 December 2024, AFP reported allegations that Abdullah was involved in the dismissal of five Somoy TV staff.[21] City Group chair Mohammad Hasan told BBC Bangla that a 15-member team—including Abdullah—had visited and pressed for specific sackings, a claim Abdullah denies.[21][22] He later described the AFP story as “false propaganda.”[23][24]

Comments on the army

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In March 2025, Abdullah’s public remarks alleging military interference in political affairs sparked controversy. Bangladesh Army Headquarters termed his comments “ridiculous and immature.”[25][26][27]

Internal party discipline issues

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Between March and April 2025, the National Citizen Party (NCP) experienced internal rifts after Abdullah and fellow coordinator Sarjis Alam issued conflicting statements about a meeting with the military.[28][29] Army HQ dismissed the claims as “immature,”[30][31] while senior NCP members criticized Abdullah’s “unvetted social-media behavior.”[32] On 15 April 2025, Abdullah warned critics, “You won’t be able to handle it if I start breaching decorum.”[33][34] The NCP later established a “Discipline and Investigation Committee” to regulate social-media conduct of party officeholders.[35]

Stance on LGBTQ issues

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Abdullah attracted attention after NCP included Muntasir Rahman, an openly gay activist, in its central committee. Though the party gave no official comment, Abdullah indirectly called the inclusion an “unintentional mistake.”[36] Following objections from Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, Rahman was excluded from the 217-member convening committee.[37]

Political dispute in Barisal

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In April 2025, Abdullah was reportedly involved in a heated altercation during a regional Awami League meeting in Barisal, concerning the nomination of candidates for upcoming municipal elections. Local reports indicated that Abdullah and senior leaders exchanged sharp words in front of media representatives, reflecting deepening divisions within the party’s southern committee.[38][39]

Personal life

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Abdullah got married on 12 October 2024.[40][41]

References

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  1. ^ "National Citizen Party: A look at the top leaders' rise". The Business Standard. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Hasnat Abdullah: Protest to continue till all Supreme Court judges resign". Dhaka Tribune. 10 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Appoint HC Justice Syed Refaat as Chief Justice by 6pm: Protest coordinator Hasnat". The Business Standard. 10 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Didn't announce withdrawal of movement voluntarily: Six coordinators in joint statement". Prothom Alo. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  5. ^ "'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.
  6. ^ a b "The 'Super 10' of the National Citizen Party". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 28 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Hasnat Abdullah". The Business Standard. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  8. ^ "Hasnat Abdullah news".{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ কেউ প্রভাব খাটানোর চেষ্টা করলে তাকে গণধোলাই দিবেন : হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ. Kaler Kantho. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  10. ^ ডিবি হেফাজত থেকে মুক্তির পর যা জানালেন সমন্বয়ক হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহ. Ajker Patrika. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  11. ^ Mashal, Mujib (5 August 2024). "She Thought Her Grip Was Unbreakable. Bangladeshis Would Prove Otherwise". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Report, Star Digital (26 July 2024). "3 quota protest organisers 'picked up' from hospital". The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
  13. ^ "Quota protest coordinators Asif, Nahid, Baker 'taken into DB custody for security reasons'". The Business Standard. 26 July 2024.
  14. ^ "We're forced to give false statement, say six conveners". The Financial Express (Bangladesh). 3 August 2024.
  15. ^ Hasnat, Saif; Mashal, Mujib; Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (5 August 2024). "Bangladesh's Leader Resigns and Flees Country After Protests". The New York Times.
  16. ^ "One demand now". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 4 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Two student coordinators take oath as advisors". Prothom Alo. 9 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Bangladesh Crisis: Bangladesh unrest: Know who's who in Muhammad Yunus-led interim government". The Hindu. 9 August 2024.
  19. ^ "NCP, protesters block Shahbagh for ban on AL". The Daily Star. 2025-05-10. Archived from the original on 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  20. ^ "১২৫ আসনে প্রার্থী ঘোষণা এনসিপির: কে কোথায় মনোনয়ন পেলেন". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 10 December 2025.
  21. ^ a b Tasnim, Tanha (26 December 2024). "সময় টিভি : চ্যানেলটির সাংবাদিক ছাঁটাইয়ে হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহর সংশ্লিষ্টতা কী?" [Somoy TV: What is Hasnat Abdullah's involvement in the channel's journalist layoffs?]. BBC Bangla (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  22. ^ "সময় টিভির সাংবাদিক বরখাস্তের ঘটনায় হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহর স্ট্যাটাস". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali).
  23. ^ "সময় টিভির সাংবাদিক বরখাস্ত, হাসনাতের স্ট্যাটাস". দৈনিক আমাদের সময়. 26 December 2024.
  24. ^ "সময় টিভির ৫ সাংবাদিক বরখাস্তের ঘটনায় যা বললেন হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ" (in Bengali).
  25. ^ "হাসনাতের বক্তব্য "অত্যন্ত হাস্যকর ও অপরিপক্ক গল্পের সম্ভার": সেনাসদর". Netra News. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  26. ^ "সেনাবাহিনী নিয়ে হাসনাতের বক্তব্যে কি চাপে পড়েছে জাতীয় নাগরিক পার্টি?". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). 23 March 2025.
  27. ^ "'ক্যান্টনমেন্ট থেকে' আওয়ামী লীগ পুনর্বাসনের পরিকল্পনা চলছে, অভিযোগ হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ'র". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). 21 March 2025.
  28. ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (23 March 2025). "হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহর বক্তব্যে 'কিছুটা দ্বিমত' জানিয়ে সারজিসের পোস্ট". Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
  29. ^ "Hasnat, Sarjis' Facebook posts on army chief meeting stir discontent in NCP". Prothom Alo. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  30. ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (22 March 2025). "সেনাবাহিনীর ঊর্ধ্বতন কর্তৃপক্ষের সঙ্গে যে আলোচনা হয়েছে, সেটাকে রাজনৈতিক হস্তক্ষেপ মনে করছি: হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ". Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
  31. ^ "Army HQ calls Hasnat's statement 'ridiculous and immature'". Dhaka Tribune. 23 March 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  32. ^ "এনসিপির ইফতারে শিষ্টাচারবর্জিত মন্তব্যের অভিযোগ". The Business Standard বাংলা. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  33. ^ "Hasnat slams calling NCP's position on AL as 'indecorous'". The Financial Express.
  34. ^ "Hasnat warns against labeling NCP's anti-AL stance as 'indecorous'". The Daily Observer.
  35. ^ "NCP forms discipline committee". Daily Janakantha. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  36. ^ Azizur Rahman, Khandaker (2 March 2025). "NCP faces backlash over LGBTQ inclusion in leadership". Daily Observer.
  37. ^ Abdullah Apu, Ashik (3 March 2024). "A mixed bag in NCP convening committee". The Daily Star.
  38. ^ "বরিশালে আওয়ামী লীগের বৈঠকে উত্তপ্ত বাক্য বিনিময়". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 21 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  39. ^ "Factional conflict flares in Barisal AL over nomination". New Age. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  40. ^ সমন্বয়ক হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহ বিয়ে করলেন. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 12 October 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  41. ^ বিয়ের পর অভিনন্দনে সিক্ত সমন্বয়ক হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ. Daily Janakantha (in Bengali). Retrieved 3 February 2025.
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  •   Quotations related to Hasnat Abdullah at Wikiquote
  •   Media related to Hasnat Abdullah at Wikimedia Commons
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