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Sarjis Alam

Bangladeshi Student Activist
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Sarjis Alam (Bengali:সারজিস আলম) is a Bangladeshi Student Activist and one of the coordinators and leaders of the quota reform movement.[1][2] He is also one of the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.[3][4]

Biography

Early Life and Education

Sarjis Alam was raised in a culturally diverse and non-communal environment near the Bangladesh-India border. He completed his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) at BAF Shaheen College Dhaka. He later pursued higher education at the University of Dhaka, earning a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Zoology.

Family

Sarjis Alam comes from a politically aware family. His father, Aktaruzzaman Saju, is a businessman and a former member of the Awami League, while his mother, Bakera Begum, is a homemaker.

Students movements

Sarjis Alam gained national prominence through his active involvement in the student movement in Bangladesh. As a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, he advocated for reforms to the country's controversial quota system in government jobs, which many students criticized as inequitable and outdated. This movement, which began as a grassroots campaign, quickly grew into a nationwide protest.[5] In 2019, Alam was elected to the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), where he represented the interests of students and voiced their demands for systemic reforms.[6] His leadership and ability to mobilize large groups of students earned him significant recognition. The protests reached a climax in 2024, leading to significant political changes in the country, including the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.[7] Following this political shift, Alam and his fellow activists advocated for Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government, reflecting their vision for a reformed and inclusive political landscape.[8] Alam's role in the movement demonstrated his commitment to human rights and youth empowerment, marking him as a key figure in Bangladesh's student activism history.

References