Staff Reporter : Hasnat Abdullah is the member of parliament for the Cumilla-4 constituency in the current parliament. This student from the English Department of Dhaka University came into the limelight through the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July 2024. Born into a low-income family in Cumilla, he initially took up tuitions to bear his educational expenses after coming to Dhaka University and later started an online coaching centre named “School of Excellence”.
During his stay at Dhaka University’s Amar Ekushey Hall, Hasnat Abdullah was a member of the currently banned student organisation, Bangladesh Chhatra League. During this period, he was seen actively participating in various programmes of Chhatra League. Later, he stated that he was involved in Chhatra League politics for the sake of survival. This is the core characteristic of his politics—opportunism, taking shape as needed, whenever required. As a YouTuber himself, he understands views very well. He does whatever it takes to attract people instantly.
During the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Hasnat took to the streets wearing a number 10 jersey to catch everyone’s attention so that people could easily recognise him. In this way, without making any significant contribution to the movement, he became a major leader. Multiple leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Movement allege that Hasnat spent more time negotiating with various intelligence agencies and leaders rather than being on the field of the movement. His political life of just two years is full of contradictions.
While he talks about establishing the rule of law, he is known as one of the main architects of mob violence in Bangladesh during the post-August 5 period. He talks about the freedom of the press, yet whenever he is criticised in newspapers, he threatens them with mobs. He speaks against corruption, but there are endless allegations of it against him in his constituency.
The primary source of Hasnat’s politics is mob violence. Occupying the political field by threatening opponents is his main strategy. Through Hasnat’s mob, the Awami League’s politics are banned, yet Hasnat himself goes to Chattogram for his own interests to hold a meeting with a banned Awami League leader. This is the character of the currently controversial Member of Parliament, Hasnat Abdullah. White on the outside, black inside.
On 24 December 2024, France-based news agency AFP published a report alleging that Hasnat Abdullah was involved in the simultaneous termination of five media personnel working at Somoy TV. Mohammad Hasan, Director of City Group and Somoy TV, confirmed to BBC Bangla that a 15-member team, including Hasnat Abdullah, went to their office and pressured them to terminate several employees.
However, while Hasnat Abdullah admitted to visiting the City Group office, he denied exerting any pressure. Later, when Hasnat’s forces threatened to implicate City Group in a murder case, they refrained from making any further comments on the matter.
On 21 March 2025, Hasnat Abdullah made a Facebook post regarding the Bangladesh Army, attempting to spread hatred in society against the army, which is the symbol of state sovereignty. This is a gross injustice and an offence. However, nurtured under the patronage of the Yunus government, no action was taken against Hasnat.
Following the discussions surrounding this post, Netra News published a report featuring comments from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the army, which stated that Hasnat’s remarks were “a collection of highly ridiculous and immature stories”. This is how Hasnat continues to operate—by spreading rumours, misinformation, and fear.
No media house dares to publish news against Hasnat. This is because if any news is published against him, that newspaper is tagged as a collaborator of the Awami League or an agent of India, followed by threats of mob violence.
In April last year, Prothom Alo published a report titled “Hasnat Faces Diverse Questions Including a Luxurious Lifestyle”. Publicly protesting this headline on Facebook, Hasnat openly threatened Prothom Alo. He stated, “If you think you can stop Hasnat Abdullah by publishing news written from Delhi, then you are still living in a fool’s paradise.” Following Hasnat’s threat, Prothom Alo removed the news article.
Although Hasnat once practised Chhatra League politics, he is now fiercely anti-Awami League. The interim government banned Awami League politics by leveraging his movement. While he publicly opposes the Awami League, his clandestine communication with Awami League leaders and activists is an open secret. To thwart the BNP in his own constituency, Hasnat compromises with “Awami collaborators”.
BNP leaders allege that under Hasnat’s shelter, the Awami League is now being rehabilitated there. A major proof that Hasnat can embrace the Awami League for his own needs occurred on 14 April, when Hasnat Abdullah went to visit Monzur Alam at his residence in the Kattali area of Chittagong for a courtesy meeting. Upon hearing this news, some people identifying themselves as ‘July Warriors’ gathered in front of Monzur Alam’s house.
Later, while leaving Monzur Alam’s residence, the gathered crowd surrounded Hasnat Abdullah and questioned him. Several such videos went viral on social media. Some were heard saying that Monzur Alam is an “Awami collaborator” and since Hasnat Abdullah himself is a July Warrior who stood in parliament advocating for banning the Awami League, they demanded to know from Mr Abdullah why he was at Monzur Alam’s house. Later, Hasnat’s close associates rescued and escorted him away.
Hasnat is always seen being vocal against corruption. In April last year, Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organiser of the Southern Region of the National Citizen Party (NCP), met with the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Abdul Momen. Hasnat Abdullah told media personnel, “We have come to the Anti-Corruption Commission with some allegations. We have submitted our complaints in writing.” When asked about the details of the allegations, Hasnat Abdullah replied, “Very confidential.” Instead of giving a direct answer as to who the allegations were against, Hasnat said, “This is very confidential. If I disclose a confidential matter now, it won’t remain confidential anymore. Moreover, the criminals will become alert.”
Later, it was revealed that behind Hasnat’s visit to the ACC lay a massive extortion plan. After submitting corruption allegations against a specific industrial conglomerate, they were given an ultimatum, during which the industrial group allegedly left the country after providing a large sum of money to Hasnat and his associates. When asked what happened to Hasnat’s complaint, an ACC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that they withdrew the complaint a few days later.
Hasnat has been a Member of Parliament for only three months, yet allegations of corruption and nepotism have already surfaced against him in his area. A tender was issued for carpeting the Eidgah of Baitul Falah Jame Mosque in Ward No. 1 of South Muingla under Debidwar upazila, where allegations of embezzling Tk10 crore have emerged. Anomalies have been reported regarding the casting work of a mosque in the area. A tender for a 20ft x 40ft brick-and-mortar structure was allocated at Tk11,81,000. Local masons allege that this work can be done for a maximum of Tk3,00,000.
“Where did the remaining nearly Tk9,00,000 go?”—this is the question of the locals. According to them, local NCP leaders have embezzled this money.
Furthermore, Hasnat Abdullah could not provide any transparent account regarding the Tk12.80 crore meant for flood relief in 2024. During that time, money was collected from the public to help the flood victims, but relief was not distributed using that money.
In Premu Village of Barkamta union under Debidwar Upazila, expenses were shown without installing any solar lines. The solar light in front of Premu Government Primary School belonged to the budget of local Awami League leader Rajib Munshi. Hasnat Abdullah claimed this as his own work. Where did the solar money go then? This is not the only complaint regarding the installation of solar lights against Hasnat Abdullah in Debidwar; a mountain of multiple such allegations has accumulated among the locals.
There is no solar light in front of Mobarak Master’s house in Hosenpur Madhya Para. Even at the junction connecting Nandibari, in front of the Hosenpur Central Eidgah field at the three-way intersection, there is no solar light. Victims have also reported that Hasnat Abdullah’s cadres are threatening the complainants on Facebook and locally.
Recently, at a BNP event, the Administrator of Comilla District Council, Md Mostak Miah, raised allegations of a Tk25 crore disparity against two then-leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement who led the 2024 mass uprising. He stated, “The leaders of the anti-discrimination movement themselves have practised discrimination.” Mostak Miah’s speech against these two leaders went viral instantly across various media outlets. Following the broadcast of this statement, MP Hasnat Abdullah spoke over the phone with the complainant, Mostak Miah.
During the call, heated arguments were exchanged between them, and that audio conversation also spread on social media. Regarding this matter, Comilla District Council Administrator Mostak Miah said, “Through the participation of students and the public across the country, including the BNP, the autocracy fell in the ‘24 mass uprising.” Yet, certain student leaders have created irregularities and discrimination by brute force during the tenure of the interim government.”
This is Hasnat Abdullah. On the outside, he speaks of transparency, good governance, and democracy, but on the inside, he believes in muscle power and mobs. He uses force to suppress dissent and utilises social media to threaten critics. According to political analysts, Hasnat’s actions are reminiscent of Taher of Lakshmipur and Joynal Hazari of Feni from the past. Godfathers like Taher and Hazari have departed from politics, but is a new godfather being manufactured now?