Student Leaders Resign as Bangladesh Prepares for Pivotal Elections

Two influential student leaders from Bangladesh's interim government, M Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, resigned amidst preparations for upcoming national elections. Their resignations align with the Election Commission’s rule prohibiting advisers from contesting polls while in government roles. This marks a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape.

In a notable political development, two key student leaders, now advisers in Bangladesh's interim government, have resigned as the nation gears up for elections. M Mahfuj Alam, Adviser for Information and Broadcasting, and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Adviser for Local Government, stepped down following the Election Commission's directive.

Their resignations come as the Election Commission prepares to announce the schedule for the polls, reiterating its stance that no adviser can contest elections while serving in the interim government. Both leaders were pivotal in the student-led movement that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's government in 2024.

The statement from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus highlighted their role in leading the 'revolution'. Meanwhile, public speculation lingers about their potential political ambitions, though neither have confirmed affiliations with any party, including the newly formed National Citizen Party by ex-adviser Nahid Islam.

(With inputs from agencies.)