Asif Mahmud

Asif Mahmud Shojib was born on 14 July 1998 to a Bengali family of Muslim Bhuiyans in the village of Aqubpur in Muradnagar, Comilla District. He was the son of Mohammad Billal Hossain Bhuiyan and Rukhsana Begum. Mahmud studied at Nakhalpara Hossain Ali High School in Dhaka and completed his secondary education there.^[6] Afterwards, he studied at Adamjee Cantonment College, where he served as the Cadet Sergeant of the college's BNCC Club. He was a student of the 2017–18 academic session in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Dhaka.^[7] He is currently studying for a Master's degree at the North South University.^[8][9]

Mahmud was one of the coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination opposing quotas in government jobs, which evolved into a campaign to remove Hasina from power.^[10] He along with Nahid Islam and others gained national recognition in mid-July 2024 when he and several other Dhaka University students were detained by police^[11] as the protests became violent.^[12]

In the aftermath, on August 5, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country.^[13] Nahid stated that their goals weren't fully met, and following Hasina's resignation, the group aimed to "abolish fascist systems forever".^[14] Mahmud and his organisation called Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government.^[15][16]

Mahmud began his career when he, along with another coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, Nahid Islam, was appointed as an adviser in the Interim government of Bangladesh.^[17] In this capacity, he took on dual responsibilities, serving as the Adviser for Youth and Sports and overseeing the Labour and Employment.^[18] He was subsequently transferred from the Labour and Employment Ministry to the Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives on 10 November, 2024.^[19]

Asif began his political involvement as a student activist and became a key coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, a movement that led the July Revolution in Bangladesh. During the interim government period, he served as an adviser with responsibilities including youth and sports, labour and employment, and local government portfolios.

In early December 2025, Bhuiyan submitted his wealth statement and cancelled his diplomatic passport in preparation for participation in national politics following his resignation from the interim government.^[20] Shortly thereafter, he resigned from his advisory position on 10 December 2025, ending his tenure in the interim administration.^[21]

On 29 December 2025, Bhuiyan joined the National Citizen Party and was appointed its spokesperson as well as chief of the party’s election steering committee, choosing not to contest the upcoming general election himself.^[22][23]

• Yunus ministry