Nahid Islam

Nahid Islam is a human rights defender and a student of Sociology Department of Dhaka University and one of the National Coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination Movement. The Students Against Discrimination Movement is a student led protest demanding reform of the quota system in government jobs in Bangladesh which started after the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruling in June 2024 revived a 30% quota for descendants of freedom fighters. A total 56 percent of first and second class government jobs in Bangladesh entailed quotas. 30 percent of the total reserved for the descendants of ‘freedom fighters’. This quota has been widely criticised as a discriminatory system to access jobs that is allegedly used politically.

Nahid Islam was reportedly picked up on 19 July 2024 midnight from a house in Sabujbagh by at least 25 men in plainclothes. Blindfolded and handcuffed, he was then taken to a room where he was interrogated repeatedly about his involvement in the student movement and tortured. He was left unconscious and battered under a bridge in Purbachalf on 21 July 2024. Later on, 26 July 2024, Nahid Islam was taken from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi by individuals identifying themselves as personnel from various intelligence agencies, including the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch.