By Nisar Uddin

DHAKA, July 2, 2025 (BSS) - Abdul Hannan Masud, Senior Joint Chief Coordinator of National Citizen Party-NCP, who played a significant role in the July People’s Uprising. For the entire month of July, he was on the run, yet he continued to coordinate and guide the movement—sometimes through Facebook Live, sometimes by sending messages to journalists.
  
In a recent interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), he reflected on various issues during the movement. Through his words, many untold stories of that time have come to light. 

From the beginning of his student life, Hannan Masud had been outspoken against injustice and irregularities. As a result, during his second year at the university, he was forced to leave dormitory by leaders and activists of the student wing of the ruling party. His political journey began with Bangladesh Chatra Odhikar Parishad.

He later stepped away from that organization too. Hannan Masud is a student of the 2019-2020 session at the University of Dhaka.

BSS: When did your political journey begin? What inspired you to get into politics? 
Hannan Masud: Our struggle did not begin in June. My political journey started in 2022 when I left my hall and joined the Student Rights Council. The aim was to raise voice against the dictatorship established at the national level and the oppression students were facing on the campuses. I believed that someone had to stand against injustice. A section must always remain come up to raise voice. No matter how few in number, those who speak the truth will eventually find support. That belief led me to step in politics.

Under what circumstances did you join the quota reform movement?  
Hannan Masud:  At that time, I was living in Mohammadpur. After returning from a tuition, I joined an online meeting with some fellow activists. As per the decision of that meeting, on the evening of June 5, we organized a protest rally at the Central Library of Dhaka University. Gradually, we tried to involve more students in the movement—and we saw a good response. From the programme, we decided to run the movement through crowdfunding. That’s how we managed all expenses at the beginning. We continued the protest programme until June 12.

On June 12, a delegation of us went to the High Court to submit a memorandum to the Attorney General on quota issue. But, he didn’t meet us. 

How did the name “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement” come out?  
Hannan Masud: After submitting the memorandum to the Attorney General on June 12, we gave an ultimatum till June 30. From July 1, we resumed our protest programmes. On July 4, there was a court hearing regarding the quota issue. We had decided that if the verdict wasn’t stayed, we would establish a platform to wage our movement. During the discussions among us, I proposed the name “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.” It was accepted unanimously.

On the night of July 14, students came out of residential halls with the slogan “Who are you? Who I’m? Razakar, Razakar” in protest of Sheikh Hasina’s remarks. Tell us about the night.
Hannan Masud:  Sheikh Hasina returned from China—probably on July 13. A team of the Special Branch (SB) met with us. They told me that some ministers want to talk with us. I told them- “Look, our demands are clear. If they want to meet, they must give assurance that the demands are met and no action will be taken against the protesting students. Only then we will consider going for such a meeting. We will go only to listen to their decision, not to exchange views or any long discussion. Finally we joined a meeting with them, but left the meeting as it was not proceed progressively.

Later, the Awami League, Chhatra League, and the then DMP Commissioner held press conference and threatened the protesting students, saying, ‘If public suffering occurs, there will be no leniency.’ We thought this might reduce student participation. But many students still turned up.

On July 14 afternoon, Sheikh Hasina, in a press conference, referred to the students as “descendants of Razakars.” That very night, students marched out of all the halls in protest. Back in 2018, during the quota reform movement, Matia Chowdhury had referred to protesters as “children of Razakars.” That also sparked protests. The 2018 incident was as inspiration for us.

That night, the massive presence of female students inspired us a lot. Defying all threats and intimidation, female students came out of the halls late at night, banging pots and pans. That night marked the beginning of Chhatra League’s downfall across campuses. Mass resignations followed. Many Chhatra League leaders resigned that very night.

On July 15, how did the Chhatra League’s attack on students at DU campus begin? Did other student organizations support you afterward?  
Hannan Masud:  On July 15, we had a sit-in programme at Raju Sculpture. Rifat, Hasib and some other fellows were visiting different hall to drum up support with loudspeakers. At that time some Chhatra League activists from Bijoy Ekattor Hall attacked them. Hearing the incident, the agitating students moved from Raju to the residential halls.

At that time, Chhatra League supporters brandishing with sticks and weapons were staying at Madhur Canteen. As the students moved closer to the halls, they swooped on them. BCL activists from different parts of Dhaka City joined with them. The BCL activists were so desperate that even the female students weren’t spared.

We decided to hold a procession in protest against the attack. We sought support from Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Union, and Shibir. Police blocked us at Doel Chattar. We weren’t allowed to move forward. From there, we announced the next day’s protest from Raju Sculpture.

On July 16, when Chhatra League leaders and activists were kicked out from the halls, did you coordinate with Chhatra Dal, Shibir, or others?  
Hannan Masud:  After the evening of July 15, we didn’t keep much contact with them. The next day, we arranged a ‘Gayebana Janaza’ on campus for the martyrs. Police opened fire on us. I was shot with rubber bullets in both legs. Being injured, I sat down on the ground. At that time, police were near Surya Sen Hall, and Chhatra League was trying to enter from other side of Bangabandhu Hall. Journalists rescued me from there. That evening, Asif Bhai declared a complete shutdown of campus.

July 17 was a tense day. What do you remember?  
Hannan Masud:  During this phase, the family I tutored helped me the most. The student’s parents sheltered me in their house. Aunty even washed my clothes. She cooked and served food to the agitating students. After leaving the campus on the 17th, I stayed in their house for two days.

On July 18, uncle woke me up, and said, “The situation looks like that Sheikh Hasina will flee. Students have encircled everything.” Seeing the anger of private university students’ on state run  BTV, brought tears on my eyes. I felt we were going to win.

On the night of July 19, nine demands were issued. Nahid Islam was abducted that night. What happened to you?  
Hannan Masud:  That evening, I received a call from DB. One of the three negotiators pressurized me to go to the DB office. He claimed Nahid and Asif were using Jamaat-Shibir’s money to fund the movement. He tried to allure me. But, I made it clear I wouldn’t go.
He said, “So many are dying—where will this end?” I replied, “Either Sheikh Hasina will fall, or I’ll be killed. Only then it will end.”

After this, I left with my uncle on his bike to another student’s house in Mohammadpur. I stayed there a day, and then moved to my uncle’s house.

You met Nahid Islam at Gonoshasthaya Hospital. What happened there?  
Hannan Masud: From my uncle’s house, I went to the hospital. Before that, I contacted two of the coordinators of the movement. One of them offered me a curfew-pass and a transport, asking me to meet them. I refused to take the transport and went to the hospital alone by an auto rickshaw.
Within 30 minutes of my arrival in the hospital it was sealed off. We weren’t allowed to enter or speak with anybody. Then I returned to my student’s residence. 

You held a press conference that day?  
Hannan Masud:  Yes, in front of the hospital. After the conference, intelligence agents surrounded us. A senior brother from my area, Gaffar Bhai, was present. With the help from journalists, he took me to a house in Kalabagan. That night, disguised in a burqa, he moved me to another house in Rampura.
On the 23rd, I went to Muzahidul Islam Shahin Bhai’s chamber. He kept me at his brother’s house in Jatrabari. From there, on the 25th, I moved to Mohammadpur.

Nahid Bhai called us to ask about the injured persons and advised us to create a legal cell and medical team. We visited Bangladesh Hospital in Uttara, but found no record of the injured. Still, we forced them to let us meet with one injured person.

Did you have any field activity that day?  
Hannan Masud: We then went to Kuwait Maitree Hospital but got caught by intelligence agents. We called Gaffar Bhai, who arranged an ambulance. Pretending Mahin Bhai was sick, we escaped. Several bikes and vans followed us. Our driver tried to enter the US Embassy. Officials there were concerned for our safety but couldn’t shelter us. They referred us to another international agency, who took us in for one night.

From where did you release videos and give programs?  
Hannan Masud: We contacted Shahidul Alam Bhai, who arranged shelter for us in a Gulshan school. We stayed there for three days. Gaffar Bhai cooked for us and took care of everything. Then we moved to a Bihari camp but left the place as it was not safe. Then we stayed in an office of a businessman for one day. We went in a house in Sadarghat, which was not also safe for us. Then we contacted Zulkarnaine Saer Bhai, who managed to contact with a female journalist. She arranged a shelter in one of her friend’s office in Mirpur. We stayed there until August 2.

You went live on August 2?  
Hannan Masud:  Yes, that day, I got a call from the Prime Minister’s Office. They offered me to meet with family, send us abroad and ensure that we’d never face hardship. I said, “Tell your Prime Minister, my brothers’ blood is on her hands. Let her clean it first.”

Later, I went live on Facebook, saying, “PM, you don’t need to keep your door open. Come outside. You’ve no right to stay in Ganabhaban with public money. You must vacate it.”

I announced a non-cooperation movement. A female journalist pressurized us for a one-point declaration. She said, “Decide in one minute. If not, we won’t guarantee your safety.”

I replied, “Do whatever you want. Kill me if you can. We won’t do it. Nahid Bhai will issue any announcement tomorrow from the ground. He had advised us to hold the ground as long as possible.

March to Dhaka was advanced to the 4th?  
Hannan Masud: Yes. I called Asif Bhai and suggested we should move it up. Nahid Bhai also agreed with us. On July 30, we established contact with Shibir and Chhatra Dal. They offered us giving money for video-making. But we declined. We managed Tk 50,000 on our own and received Tk 10,000 from Shibir to buy two phones. We coordinated with Shibir as an organization, not individuals. 

On August 5, after Hasina’s fall…?  
Hannan Masud:  I was overwhelmed. I walked to the Parliament and Ganabhaban—but didn’t enter into the Parliament. as I never wanted to go there before being elected as a member. 

After the July uprising many well-wishers pulled us in different directions. We weren’t allowed to make our own decisions. We weren’t even supposed to go to Channel 24—but we were taken there. If we were allowed to act freely, this uprising would help making a Bangladesh something completely different.