Who Were the Brains Behind Sheikh Hasina’s Ouster?

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, revealed the “brains” behind the populist movement that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose 16-year rule came to an end. Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative alongside former US President Bill Clinton, Yunus introduced three young leaders of the student-led ‘Monsoon Revolution,’ which toppled the Awami League government.

“They shook the nation with their speeches, their dedication, and their commitment,” Yunus said, while specifically naming Mahfuz Alam, his special assistant, as the mastermind behind the movement. Despite Alam’s modesty, denying the credit, Yunus highlighted his central role in orchestrating the revolution.

The protests were sparked by the reinstatement of a controversial job quota system, triggering widespread discontent among students. The movement was meticulously organized, ensuring no single leader could be arrested, which Yunus described as the revolution’s key strength.

The uprising, which began in July 2024, eventually led to Sheikh Hasina’s resignation after violent crackdowns resulted in nearly 450 deaths and thousands of arrests. The government’s efforts to suppress the movement by blaming opposition parties failed, and the students’ determination prevailed.

After the government’s fall, several student leaders took prominent positions in the interim government, with Mahfuz Alam becoming Yunus’s special assistant and Nahid Islam, a key face of the protests, appointed as an adviser in the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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