Hasnat Abdullah
{{Short description|Bangladeshi politician and activist}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Hasnat Abdullah
| office = Anti-discrimination Students Movement
| order = Convener of the
| native_name = {{nobold|হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ}}
| native_name_lang = bn
| image = Hasnat Abdullah giving speech at March for Unity 08 (cropped).jpg
| alt = Hasnat Abdullah during the July Revolution
| caption = Hasnat in 2024
| country = Bangladesh
| predecessor = Position established
| status = Incumbent
| term_start = 22 October 2024
| party = National Citizen Party
| 1blankname = Vice
| 1namedata = Umama Fatema
| birth_date = 1998{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
| birth_place = Debidwar, Comilla, Bangladesh
| nationality = Bangladeshi
| alma_mater = University of Dhaka
| occupation = {{bulleted list|Student activist|Teacher|Online Instructer}}
| blank1 = Known for
| data1 = Being co-ordinator of the Students Against Discrimination
| 1blankname2 = Movements
| 1namedata2 = Student–People's uprising
{{Bulleted list|2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement|Non-cooperation movement (2024)}}
}}
Hasnat Abdullah ({{langx|bn|হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ}}) is a Bangladeshi politician, activist{{cite news |title=National Citizen Party: A look at the top leaders' rise |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/national-citizen-party-look-top-leaders-rise-1080636 |access-date=28 February 2025 |work=The Business Standard |date=28 February 2025 |language=en}} and convener of the Students Against Discrimination,{{cite news |title=Hasnat Abdullah: Protest to continue till all Supreme Court judges resign |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/court/354265/hasnat-abdullah-student-protest-to-continue-till |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=10 August 2024}}{{cite news |title=Appoint HC Justice Syed Refaat as Chief Justice by 6pm: Protest coordinator Hasnat |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/court/appoint-hc-justice-refaat-ahmed-chief-justice-6pm-protest-coordinator-hasnat-913536 |work=The Business Standard |date=10 August 2024 |language=en}} which led the Student–People's uprising.{{Cite web |last= |date=2 August 2024 |title=Didn't announce withdrawal of movement voluntarily: Six coordinators in joint statement |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/cigx71vi3p |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Prothom Alo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829172205/https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/cigx71vi3p |archive-date=29 August 2024 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=13 July 2024 |title='Cooperate with law enforcement, maintain good relations with journos': Anti-quota movement coordinator sets guidelines |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/cooperate-law-enforcement-maintain-good-relations-journos-anti-quota-movement-coordinator |access-date=11 August 2024 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}} He has been the Chief Organizer (Southern Region) of the National Citizen Party since 2025.{{Cite web |date=28 February 2025 |title=The 'Super 10' of the National Citizen Party |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/the-super-10-the-national-citizen-party-3836156 |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=The Daily Star (Bangladesh) |language=en}}
He is currently a student in the English Department at University of Dhaka.{{Cite web |date=11 August 2024 |script-title=bn:কেউ প্রভাব খাটানোর চেষ্টা করলে তাকে গণধোলাই দিবেন : হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/national/2024/08/11/1413921 |access-date=11 August 2024 |website=Kaler Kantho}}{{Cite web |date=1 August 2024 |script-title=bn:ডিবি হেফাজত থেকে মুক্তির পর যা জানালেন সমন্বয়ক হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহ |url=https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/348899/%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%95 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Ajker Patrika}}
Activism
Hasnat 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’s government.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/05/world/asia/bangladesh-protest-sheikh-hasina.html | title=She Thought Her Grip Was Unbreakable. Bangladeshis Would Prove Otherwise | work=The New York Times | last1=Mashal | first1=Mujib | date=5 August 2024 }} 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 {{cite news |last1=Report |first1=Star Digital |title=3 quota protest organisers 'picked up' from hospital |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/rights/news/3-quota-protest-organisers-picked-hospital-3662756 |work=The Daily Star (Bangladesh) |date=26 July 2024 |language=en}} as the protests became violent.{{cite news |title=Quota protest coordinators Asif, Nahid, Baker 'taken into DB custody for security reasons' |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/quota-protest-coordinators-asif-nahid-baker-allegedly-picked-db-men-hospital-db-denies |work=The Business Standard |date=26 July 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=We're forced to give false statement, say six conveners |url=https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/metro-news/were-forced-to-give-false-statement-say-six-conveners-1722621068 |work=The Financial Express (Bangladesh) |date=3 August 2024 |language=en}}
In the aftermath, On August 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled from the country.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/08/05/world/bangladesh-protests | title=Bangladesh's Leader Resigns and Flees Country After Protests | work=The New York Times | last1=Hasnat | first1=Saif | last2=Mashal | first2=Mujib | last3=Bigg | first3=Matthew Mpoke | date=5 August 2024 }} 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".{{cite news |title=One demand now |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/one-demand-now-3668981 |work=The Daily Star (Bangladesh) |date=4 August 2024 |language=en}}
He and his organisation called on Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government.{{cite news |title=Two student coordinators take oath as advisors |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/rlacb458dn |work=Prothom Alo |date=9 August 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Bangladesh Crisis: Bangladesh unrest: Know who's who in Muhammad Yunus-led interim government |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bangladesh-unrest-know-whos-who-in-interim-government/article68505107.ece |work=The Hindu |date=9 August 2024 |language=en-IN}}
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).
On 10 May 2025, Hasnat Abdullah called for a protest to ban permanently Awami League.{{Cite news |date=2025-05-10 |title=NCP, protesters block Shahbagh for ban on AL |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/ncp-protesters-block-shahbagh-ban-al-3890561 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250509185021/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/ncp-protesters-block-shahbagh-ban-al-3890561 |archive-date=2025-05-09 |access-date=2025-05-11 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
Controversies
{{Criticism section|date=May 2025}}
= Layoffs at Somoy Television =
On 24 December 2024, AFP reported allegations that Abdullah was involved in the dismissal of five Somoy TV staff.{{cite web |date=26 December 2024 |language=bn |title=সময় টিভি : চ্যানেলটির সাংবাদিক ছাঁটাইয়ে হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহর সংশ্লিষ্টতা কী? |url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/cly4zx7qlq8o |website=বিবিসি বাংলা |access-date=26 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226154101/https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/cly4zx7qlq8o |archive-date=26 December 2024}}
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.{{cite news |title=সময় টিভির সাংবাদিক বরখাস্তের ঘটনায় হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহর স্ট্যাটাস |url=https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/711984/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4 |work=The Daily Ittefaq |language=bn}} He later called the AFP story “false propaganda” on social media.{{cite web |date=26 December 2024 |title=সময় টিভির সাংবাদিক বরখাস্ত, হাসনাতের স্ট্যাটাস |url=https://dainikamadershomoy.com/details/0194016303a0 |website=দৈনিক আমাদের সময়}}{{cite news |title=সময় টিভির ৫ সাংবাদিক বরখাস্তের ঘটনায় যা বললেন হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ |url=https://samakal.com/bangladesh/article/272183/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%AB-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9 |language=en}}
= Comments on the army =
A 21 March 2025 Facebook post by Abdullah alleging military interference drew sharp rebuttals from the Bangladesh Army and sparked debate inside and outside the NCP.{{cite web |first=Hasnat |last=Abdullah |date=21 March 2025 |title=১১ই মার্চ, সময় দুপুর ২:৩০ |website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/hasnat.ab1/posts/4035803879984268 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250323072532/https://www.facebook.com/hasnat.ab1/posts/4035803879984268 |archive-date=23 March 2025 |access-date=23 March 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://netra.news/2025/army-hq-responds-hasnat-abdullah-post/ |title=হাসনাতের বক্তব্য "অত্যন্ত হাস্যকর ও অপরিপক্ক গল্পের সম্ভার": সেনাসদর |work=Netra News |date=22 March 2025 |access-date=23 March 2025}}{{cite news |title=সেনাবাহিনী নিয়ে হাসনাতের বক্তব্যে কি চাপে পড়েছে জাতীয় নাগরিক পার্টি? |url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/cyvezjj6z1lo |work=BBC News বাংলা |date=23 March 2025 |language=bn}}{{cite news |title='ক্যান্টনমেন্ট থেকে' আওয়ামী লীগ পুনর্বাসনের পরিকল্পনা চলছে, অভিযোগ হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ'র |url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/cg5d357mnveo |work=BBC News বাংলা |date=21 March 2025 |language=bn}}
= Internal party discipline issues =
In March–April 2025 the National Citizen Party faced a public rift after Abdullah and fellow coordinator Sarjis Alam posted conflicting accounts of a military meeting on Facebook.{{cite news |last1=প্রতিবেদক |first1=নিজস্ব |title=হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহর বক্তব্যে 'কিছুটা দ্বিমত' জানিয়ে সারজিসের পোস্ট |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/c4rf5cne1w |work=Prothomalo |date=23 March 2025 |language=bn}}{{cite web |title=Hasnat, Sarjis' Facebook posts on army chief meeting stir discontent in NCP |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/politics/6dzf3umbnb |website=Prothom Alo |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=27 April 2025}}
Army HQ dismissed the claims as “immature,”{{cite news |last1=প্রতিবেদক |first1=নিজস্ব |title=সেনাবাহিনীর ঊর্ধ্বতন কর্তৃপক্ষের সঙ্গে যে আলোচনা হয়েছে, সেটাকে রাজনৈতিক হস্তক্ষেপ মনে করছি: হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহ |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/politics/dnmd40pdih |work=Prothomalo |date=22 March 2025 |language=bn}}{{cite web |title=Army HQ calls Hasnat's statement 'ridiculous and immature' |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/377011/army-headquarters-responds-to-hasnat%E2%80%99s-statement |website=Dhaka Tribune |date=23 March 2025 |access-date=27 April 2025}} while senior NCP figures warned that unvetted social-media posts were eroding party discipline.{{cite web |title=এনসিপির ইফতারে শিষ্টাচারবর্জিত মন্তব্যের অভিযোগ |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangla/bangladesh/news-details-324646 |website=The Business Standard বাংলা |date=24 March 2025 |access-date=27 April 2025}}
On 15 April Abdullah warned critics, “You won’t be able to handle it if I start breaching decorum.”{{cite news |title=Hasnat slams calling NCP's position on AL as 'indecorous' |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/politics/hasnat-slams-calling-ncps-position-on-al-as-indecorous |work=The Financial Express |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Hasnat warns against labeling NCP's anti-AL stance as 'indecorous' - |url=https://www.observerbd.com/news/521112 |work=The Daily Observer}}{{cite web |title='Won't be able to handle if I start breaching decorum': Hasnat on criticism over NCP's position on AL |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/politics/wont-be-able-handle-if-i-start-breaching-decorum-hasnat-slams-calling-ncps |website=The Business Standard |date=15 April 2025 |access-date=27 April 2025}}
The party subsequently formed a Discipline and Investigation Committee and tightened social-media rules for office-holders.{{cite web |title=NCP forms discipline committee |url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/national/news/785826 |website=Daily Janakantha |access-date=27 April 2025}}
Personal life
He got married on 12 October 2024.{{cite news |script-title=bn:সমন্বয়ক হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহ বিয়ে করলেন |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/l09q2f8l4b |access-date=3 February 2025 |work=Prothom Alo |date=12 October 2024 |language=bn}}{{cite news |script-title=bn:বিয়ের পর অভিনন্দনে সিক্ত সমন্বয়ক হাসনাত আব্দুল্লাহ |url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/national/news/736593 |access-date=3 February 2025 |work=Daily Janakantha |language=bn}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Wikiquote-inline}}
- {{commons-inline}}
{{Quota reform movement in Bangladesh}}
Category:Coordinators of Anti-discrimination Students Movement
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People from Debidwar Upazila
Category:University of Dhaka alumni
Category:Bangladeshi activists
Category:Bangladeshi anti-fascists