A district-level leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Habiganj has been accused of publicly threatening the officer-in-charge (OC) of Shaistaganj Police Station and making remarks that appeared to admit involvement in the burning of a police station and the killing of a police sub-inspector.
The incident occurred at Shaistaganj Police Station on Friday afternoon and later drew widespread attention after a video of the confrontation circulated on social media, prompting sharp criticism.
In the video, Mahdi Hasan, district member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Habiganj, is seen arguing with OC Abul Kalam inside the police station. At one point, he introduces himself as a leader of the movement and issues a series of threatening statements, referring to past violent incidents.
In the footage, Mahdi Hasan is heard saying: “We reformed the government through our movement. The administration is now our people. 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 respond to calls on his mobile phone.
According to police sources, Shaistaganj police detained Enamul Hasan Nayan early Friday morning for questioning. Police identified him as a Chhatra League activist. Later in the day, a group of students led by Mahdi Hasan went to the police station and demanded Nayan’s release, claiming he was a “July movement fighter.”
When police refused, an argument broke out between Mahdi Hasan and the OC.
Police sources said that amid mounting pressure, the detainee was eventually released.
Responding to the allegations, Mahdi Hasan said his remarks were made “in the heat of the moment” and described them as a slip of the tongue. He claimed that he later realised his mistake.
District Police Superintendent Yasmin Khatun said she had seen the video and spoken to those involved. She said that, according to the OC, Nayan had been brought to the police station for questioning.
Student movement leaders later presented photographs and videos claiming that Nayan had supported the student movement, during which the exchange seen in the video took place.
Asked whether the detained individual was a Chhatra League leader, the police superintendent said Nayan appeared to have been associated with the organisation in the past, but not at present.