[5][6] Hasnat Abdullah was one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, which led the initial quota reform movement, opposing quotas in government jobs and evolved into broader anti-government movement opposing the Hasina’s government.

[7] He along with Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Sarjis Alam and others gained national recognition in mid-July 2024 when police detained him and several other University of Dhaka students [8] as the protests became violent.

[9][10] In the aftermath, On August 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled from the country.

[11] Following the exile of Hasina, Nahid Islam stated that their goals weren't fully met and that the Anti-discrimination Students Movement aimed to "abolish fascist systems forever".

[12] He and his organisation called on Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government.