Students Against Discrimination (SAD) has demanded the unconditional release of its Habiganj district unit member secretary, Mahdi Hasan, by tonight and the withdrawal of the officer-in-charge (OC) of Habiganj Sadar Police Station.
In a Facebook post made around 12:30am, the platform placed two demands, including the issuance of an ordinance by the President within the next 24 hours granting immunity to students, workers and members of the public who participated in the July mass uprising for all activities carried out between July 1 and August 8.
Earlier on Saturday evening, Mahdi Hasan was detained by Habiganj Detective Branch (DB) police.
SAD leaders and activists said Mahdi was picked up from a residence in the city’s Shayestanagar area and taken to Habiganj Sadar Police Station in a microbus.
Confirming the detention, Habiganj Superintendent of Police Yasmin Akter said Mahdi Hasan had been detained, adding that details regarding the grounds for the detention would be shared later.
Following his detention, leaders and activists of SAD gathered in front of the police station, demanding his immediate release and chanting slogans.
A video of the incident later went viral on Facebook, showing Mahdi making controversial remarks while addressing the OC, triggering widespread criticism.
In that viral video, Mahdi is seen addressing the OC, saying: “We burned down Baniachong police station, and we set SI Santosh on fire. From that position, how dare you say, ‘So what if he is an SAD activist?’ Did so many of our brothers come here for nothing? Through the July movement, we formed the government. In this context, you are part of our administration. Yet you have arrested our people.”
After mediation by Additional Superintendent of Police (Habiganj Sadar Circle) Shahidul Islam, Nayan was released around 3:30 pm on Friday.
Mahdi Hasan later acknowledged receiving the show-cause notice, claiming his remarks were a “slip of the tongue.”
OC Abul Kalam said Nayan had been detained on suspicion in an anti-discrimination movement-related case and alleged links to Chhatra League, but was released after verification found no criminal involvement.