Highlights
- Oxford Union invites multiple young Bangladeshi leaders to speak on the Bangladesh July Revolution at an international seminar.
- UP Bangladesh convener Ali Ahsan Junayed, DUCSU VP Abu Sadiq Kayem, Hasnat Abdullah and several others receive individual invitation letters.
- The event is scheduled for early January next year, jointly organized by Oxford Union and Oxford Bangla Society.
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Invitations acknowledge the youth leaders influential role in the 2024 quota reform movement and Bangladesh’s political transformation.
In a significant global recognition of Bangladesh’s youth-led political movement, the historic Oxford Union of the United Kingdom has invited several Bangladeshi young leaders to participate as panel speakers in an international seminar titled “Bangladesh’s July Revolution.”
The invitation has been extended to United People’s Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh) convener Ali Ahsan Junayed, and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Sadiq Kayem, along with several other youth organizers who played notable roles in Bangladesh’s recent political transition.
National Citizen Party’s (NCP) South Region chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah, and DUCSU ACS Mohiuddin Khan, are also among the invited guests. The seminar will be held in the first week of January next year, jointly hosted by the Oxford Union and the Oxford Bangla Society.
Each invited guest received an individually signed letter from Musa Hiraj, President of the Oxford Union Society. Speaking to the press, DUCSU VP Abu Sadiq Kayem confirmed receiving the invitation:
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আলাদা আলাদা চিঠিতে এ আমন্ত্রণ জানানো হয়েছে। প্রাথমিকভাবে কয়েকজনের নাম জানতে পেরেছি। আমরা যারা আমন্ত্রণ পেয়েছি তারা সবাই বসবো। তারপর জানা যাবে আমন্ত্রিতদের সংখ্যা।
Translation: “We have received separate official letters. I know a few names so far. All of us who received the invitation will meet soon, and then the complete list will be clear.”
UP Bangladesh convener Ali Ahsan Junayed could not be reached for comments, but the organization’s chief coordinator, Rafe Salman Rifat, wrote on Facebook that not only Hasnat and Sadiq Kayem but also Ali Ahsan Junayed received the invitation as one of the leading faces of the July movement.
Why they were selected?
From the Oxford Union’s viewpoint, the selection of these young Bangladeshi leaders was not just a ceremonial gesture but a recognition of a historic moment shaped by youth power. The invitation letters clearly underline that during the 2024 quota reform movement—a movement that evolved into a nationwide wave for political change, these individuals stood at the forefront with leadership, courage, and strategic influence.
Their roles went beyond protest spaces. As organizers, communicators, and voices of a restless generation, they helped guide one of the most transformative civic movements in recent Bangladeshi history. This is precisely why Oxford considers their experience globally relevant. In an age where youth-led political shifts are reshaping many countries, their insights offer a meaningful contribution to international academic and policy conversations.
The Union believes that hearing directly from these young organizers will help global students, researchers, and policymakers understand how modern grassroots movements operate, how narratives shift, and how political transitions can emerge from collective civic energy.
During the visit, the invitees won’t just speak at a panel—they will exchange ideas with Oxford students, scholars, and researchers on a wide spectrum of topics: public policy, democratic reform, political accountability, and contemporary South Asian politics. To ensure the focus stays on intellectual exchange, the Oxford Union will coordinate the entire visit, including travel, logistics, and local arrangements, allowing the young leaders to fully engage in meaningful dialogue.
Source: Barta Bazar
