Asif Mahmud
Asif Mahmud | |
|---|---|
আসিফ মাহমুদ | |
Asif in 2024 | |
| Spokesperson of National Citizen Party | |
| Assumed office 29 December 2025 | |
| Convener | Nahid Islam |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Adviser for Youth and Sports | |
| In office 9 August 2024 – 10 December 2025 | |
| President | Mohammed Shahabuddin |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Nazmul Hassan |
| Succeeded by | Asif Nazrul |
| Adviser for Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives | |
| In office 10 November 2024 – 10 December 2025 | |
| President | Mohammed Shahabuddin |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | A. F. Hassan Ariff |
| Succeeded by | Adilur Rahman Khan |
| Adviser for Labour and Employment | |
| In office 16 August 2024 – 10 November 2024 | |
| President | Mohammed Shahabuddin |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Md. Nazrul Islam Chowdhury |
| Succeeded by | M Sakhawat Hussain |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan 14 July 1998 Muradnagar, Bangladesh |
| Party | National Citizen Party |
| Education | University of Dhaka Adamjee Cantonment College North South University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan (Bengali: আসিফ মাহমুদ সজীব ভুঁইয়া; born 14 July 1998) is a Bangladeshi politician, who was an adviser to the Interim government of Bangladesh.[1][2][3] He was a key coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, which led the July Revolution. He is also the former president of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad at University of Dhaka unit.[4] Following his resignation from the interim government, he joined the National Citizen Party, where he serves as the party’s spokesperson.[5]
Early life and education
Asif Mahmud Shojib was born on 14 July 1998 to a Bengali family of Muslim Bhuiyans in the village of Aqubpur in Muradnagar, Comilla District. He was the son of Mohammad Billal Hossain Bhuiyan and Rukhsana Begum. Mahmud studied at Nakhalpara Hossain Ali High School in Dhaka and completed his secondary education there.[6] Afterwards, he studied at Adamjee Cantonment College, where he served as the Cadet Sergeant of the college's BNCC Club. He was a student of the 2017–18 academic session in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Dhaka.[7] He is currently studying for a Master's degree at the North South University.[8][9]
Career
Mahmud was one of the coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination opposing quotas in government jobs, which evolved into a campaign to remove Hasina from power.[10] He along with Nahid Islam and others gained national recognition in mid-July 2024 when he and several other Dhaka University students were detained by police[11] as the protests became violent.[12]
In the aftermath, on August 5, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country.[13] Nahid stated that their goals weren't fully met, and following Hasina's resignation, the group aimed to "abolish fascist systems forever".[14] Mahmud and his organisation called Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government.[15][16]
Mahmud began his career when he, along with another coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, Nahid Islam, was appointed as an adviser in the Interim government of Bangladesh.[17] In this capacity, he took on dual responsibilities, serving as the Adviser for Youth and Sports and overseeing the Labour and Employment.[18] He was subsequently transferred from the Labour and Employment Ministry to the Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives on 10 November, 2024.[19]
Political career
Asif began his political involvement as a student activist and became a key coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, a movement that led the July Revolution in Bangladesh. During the interim government period, he served as an adviser with responsibilities including youth and sports, labour and employment, and local government portfolios.
In early December 2025, Bhuiyan submitted his wealth statement and cancelled his diplomatic passport in preparation for participation in national politics following his resignation from the interim government.[20] Shortly thereafter, he resigned from his advisory position on 10 December 2025, ending his tenure in the interim administration.[21]
On 29 December 2025, Bhuiyan joined the National Citizen Party and was appointed its spokesperson as well as chief of the party’s election steering committee, choosing not to contest the upcoming general election himself.[22][23]
Controversies
Contractor Licence Issued to Father
In March 2025, Billal Hossain, father of Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, received a contractor license from the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Cumilla. Adviser Bhuiyan initially denied knowledge of the license but later confirmed its authenticity, stating it was obtained without his consent and that no work had been undertaken using it.[24][25] On April 24, 2025, the LGED Cumilla district office officially cancelled the contractor license issued to Billal Hossain, citing procedural concerns.[26]
His book titled "জুলাই: জন্মভূমি অথবা মৃত্যু", published in March 2025, caused controversy for statements made regarding the 2024 student uprising.[27]
See also
References
- ^ "Nahid gets ICT Ministry, Asif to head Sports Ministry". Daily Sun (Bangladesh). 9 August 2024.
- ^ প্রতিবেদক, বিশেষ (2024-11-10). "উপদেষ্টা সেখ বশির বাণিজ্যে, ফারুকী সংস্কৃতিতে, স্থানীয় সরকারে এলেন সজীব ভূঁইয়া". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ হাওলাদার, আসিফ (2024-08-08). "উপদেষ্টা পরিষদে ছাত্র আন্দোলনের দুই সমন্বয়ক". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Hasnat, Saif; Walid, Shayeza; Das, Anupreeta (5 August 2024). "Facing Mass Protests, Bangladesh Leader Quits, Setting up Power Struggle". The New York Times.
- ^ "Asif Mahmud joins National Citizen Party as spokesperson". bdnews24.com. 29 December 2025.
- ^ "Meet the 2 students who are now advisers to Bangladesh's interim govt". The Business Standard. 2024-08-08. Archived from the original on 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "কোটাসংস্কার আন্দোলনের সমন্বয়ক আসিফের বাবা মর্গে ছেলের লাশ খুঁজে বেড়াচ্ছেন". Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Asif Mahmud passes masters admission test at NSU". The Financial Express. 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Adviser Asif Mahmud takes part in masters admission test at North South University". The Business Standard. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ Mashal, Mujib (5 August 2024). "She Thought Her Grip Was Unbreakable. Bangladeshis Would Prove Otherwise". The New York Times.
- ^ Report, Star Digital (26 July 2024). "3 quota protest organisers 'picked up' from hospital". The Daily Star.
- ^ "Quota protest coordinators Asif, Nahid, Baker 'taken into DB custody for security reasons'". The Business Standard. 26 July 2024.
- ^ Hasnat, Saif; Mashal, Mujib; Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (5 August 2024). "Bangladesh's Leader Resigns and Flees Country After Protests". The New York Times.
- ^ Report, Star (4 August 2024). "One demand now". The Daily Star.
- ^ "Two student coordinators take oath as advisors". Prothom Alo. 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Bangladesh Crisis: Bangladesh unrest: Know who's who in Muhammad Yunus-led interim government". The Hindu.
- ^ "Two student leaders to be advisors of interim government". Prothom Alo. 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Nahid gets ICT Ministry, Asif to head Sports Ministry". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 9 August 2024.
- ^ C, S (2024-11-11). "3 surprise picks sworn in as advisers". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Asif Mahmud submits wealth statement". Daily Sun. 10 Dec 2025.
- ^ "পদত্যাগ করেছেন উপদেষ্টা আসিফ মাহমুদ ও মাহফুজ আলম". Bangla Telegraph. 10 Dec 2025.
- ^ "Asif Mahmud joins NCP, not contesting polls". BSS News. 29 Dec 2025.
- ^ "Former advisor Asif Mahmud joins NCP as spokesperson, to skip elections". bdnews24.com. 29 Dec 2025.
- ^ "Asif Mahmud apologizes for his father's mistake". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
- ^ "Asif Mahmud apologises over father's contractor licence". www.newagebd.net. 2025-07-03. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
- ^ "Adviser Asif's father's contractor license cancelled". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
- ^ "Book publication controversy". Retrieved 2025-07-04.
External links
- Quotations related to Asif Mahmud at Wikiquote
- Media related to Asif Mahmud at Wikimedia Commons