DHAKA — Activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement blocked the Shahbagh intersection late Saturday demanding the release of Mahdi Hasan, a Habiganj leader who drew attention after saying, “We burned down Baniachong police station; we set SI Santosh on fire.”
Traffic on several roads came to a halt after activists blockaded the intersection around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Police detained Mahdi Hasan around 7 p.m. Saturday. He is the member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Habiganj and a first-year undergraduate student at Habiganj Brindaban Government College. His home is in the Bhadoi area of Habiganj Sadar upazila.
On the ground, activists were seen taking position in the middle of the Shahbagh intersection, lighting fires and chanting slogans such as “Burn, burn, light the fire,” “Inqilab inqilab, zindabad zindabad” and “We want freedom, freedom for Mahdi.”
After Mahdi’s detention, Hasib Al Islam, chief coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, called on members to gather at Shahbagh in a Facebook post. “All are being called to come to Shahbagh demanding the release of Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Habiganj district,” he wrote. The blockade followed soon after, around 10:30 p.m.
Activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement also gathered in front of Habiganj Sadar police station to protest the detention. Police closed the main gate and remained inside the station, where additional officers were deployed.
According to police and local sources, Shayestaganj police arrested Enamul Hasan, vice president of the Shayestaganj sadar union Chhatra League, late Thursday night and took him to the police station. He was accused of continuing political activities linked to the banned Chhatra League. After his arrest, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement activists gheraoed the police station on Friday afternoon demanding his release. A group led by district general secretary Mahdi Hasan took position in the officer-in-charge’s room. A video of Mahdi Hasan’s exchange with the officer-in-charge spread on social media.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report