Meet Nahid Islam, who led student protests to oust Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina
Nahid Islam, a sociology student at Dhaka University, known for wearing a Bangladeshi flag tied across his forehead, played a leading role in the nationwide protests that resulted ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years in Bangladesh. The protests, initially calling for reforms to the quota system for government jobs, quickly escalated into a broader anti-government movement demanding Hasina's resignation.
As a prominent human rights defender, Islam serves as one of the national coordinators for the 'Students Against Discrimination' movement. This student-led initiative demanded reforms to the quota system for government jobs in Bangladesh. The movement emerged after the Supreme Court of Bangladesh reinstated a 30 percent quota for descendants of war veterans and freedom fighters in June 2024. The protesters argue that the quota is discriminatory and politically manipulated, restricting access to government jobs.
Islam, 26, has been a fierce critic of Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League, labelling them as "terrorists" operating on the streets. In a previous address to protesters at Shahbagh, he declared that students had "picked up sticks today" and were prepared to "take up arms" if necessary.
His national prominence surged in mid-July when he and several other Dhaka University students were arrested by police as the protests turned violent.
Nakib Islam, Nahid’s younger brother, told Reuters that Nahid had always advocated for change in the country and recounted the brutality he suffered at the hands of the police. “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 stated.
He vowed to prevent Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million, from reverting to what he described as "fascist rule" and urged fellow students to protect the Hindu minority and their places of worship, as reported by Reuters.
Islam has declared that students will not accept any government led or supported by the army and has proposed that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus be appointed as the chief adviser.
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Virat Kohli fined 20 per cent match fees, one demerit point for his altercation with Sam Konstas
Melbourne, Dec 26: India superstar Virat Kohli was on Thursday fined 20 per cent of his match fee and handed one demerit point by the ICC following his on-field altercation with Australia debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day of the fourth Test here.
The incident happened in the 10th over when Kohli and the 19-year-old Konstas bumped their shoulders and also exchanged a few words in the first session’s play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here.
"Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct relates to: "inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match"," the ICC said on its website.
"No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions propsed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft. On-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig levelled the charge," it added.
While moving across the pitch after the completion of the over, both the players bumped their shoulders and exchanged a few words before Australia opener Usman Khawaja and on-field umpires Gough and Wilson intervened.
Konstas later played down the incident after the end of the play, saying "Virat Kohli accidentally bumped into me, that's cricket and can happen with tension."
"Have a look where Virat walks. Virat's walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever."
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024
- Ricky Ponting #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zm4rjG4X9A
Kohli and Konstas come together and make contact đź‘€#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/adb09clEqd
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024
