An allegation has been raised against Mahdi Hasan, district member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Habiganj, for publicly threatening the officer-in-charge (OC) of Shaistaganj Police Station.
The incident took place at the police station on Friday afternoon.
Later, a video of Mahdi’s remarks spread on social media, triggering widespread criticism.
In the video, Mahdi Hasan is seen arguing with the OC inside the police station. At one point, he introduces himself as a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement and delivers threatening statements, referring to various past violent incidents.
In the video, Mahdi Hasan can be heard saying: “We reformed the government through our movement. The administration is our people now. You arrested our man and brought him here. You are arguing with us and saying, ‘So what if you are a protester?’ Seventeen people were martyred here. We burned down Baniachang Police Station. We set SI Santosh on fire. You may have come here, but I want to know with what courage you said these things.”
Attempts to contact Shaistaganj Police Station OC Abul Kalam for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls to his mobile phone.
According to police sources, Shaistaganj police detained Enamul Hasan Nayan, a Chhatra League activist, early Friday morning. Later, a group of students led by Mahdi Hasan went to the police station and pressured the police to release the detainee, claiming he was a “July movement fighter.” When police refused, Mahdi got into an argument with OC Abul Kalam. Eventually, under pressure, the police were forced to release the Chhatra League leader.
Regarding the allegation, Mahdi Hasan said that his remarks were a “slip of the tongue” made in anger and that he later realized his mistake.
District Police Superintendent Yasmin Khatun said she had seen the video and spoken to those involved. She added that after speaking with the OC, she learned that a person named Nayan was brought in for questioning. Student movement leaders later presented photos and videos claiming that Nayan supported the student movement, during which the exchange inside the police station occurred, as seen in the video.
When asked whether the detained individual was a Chhatra League leader, the police superintendent said he appeared to have been one in the past, but not currently.
