WATCH: Muhammad Yunus Unveils Key Figures Behind Sheikh Hasina Ouster From Bangladesh’s Government
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, revealed the masterminds behind the populist movement that ended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule.
Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative during the UN General Assembly, Yunus introduced three key figures from the student-led ‘Monsoon Revolution,’ which toppled the Awami League government.
“They shook the nation with their speeches, dedication, and commitment,” Yunus stated, sharing the stage with former US President Bill Clinton. He highlighted the students’ courage in risking their lives and their refusal to back down during the protests.
Yunus specifically named Mahfuz Alam, his special assistant, as the “brains behind the whole revolution.“
“Though he modestly denies it, Mahfuz is widely recognized as the strategic mind behind the movement,” Yunus remarked.
The Nobel laureate emphasized that the uprising was not spontaneous but a meticulously organized and disciplined effort. “It was structured in a way that no single leader could be isolated or arrested,” he said, describing this as the revolution’s greatest strength.
Yunus also recounted the previous government’s violent crackdown on protesters and praised the students’ resilience in the face of brutality.
The ‘Monsoon Revolution,’ which erupted in July 2024, was sparked by the reinstatement of a controversial job quota system, reigniting frustrations among students and the public.
The system, initially abolished in 2018 after similar protests, triggered widespread demonstrations, ultimately leading to the collapse of Hasina’s government.
The violent crackdown by Hasina’s regime resulted in nearly 450 deaths and the detention of thousands, including hundreds of students. Despite attempts by the government to blame opposition parties for exploiting the protests, the student-led movement persisted, forcing Hasina’s resignation.
Several key student activists later assumed influential roles in the military-backed caretaker government. Nahid Islam, a 26-year-old sociology student and prominent protest leader, was appointed adviser in the information and telecommunications ministry.
Mahfuz Alam, who coordinated the protests and studied law at Dhaka University, was named special assistant to Yunus shortly after the interim government was formed.
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