Police have arrested Mahdi Hasan, district member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, over allegations of issuing threats and engaging in a heated altercation with police personnel at Shaistaganj Police Station in Habiganj.
He was arrested by Habiganj Sadar police at around 7:30pm on Saturday.
The arrest was confirmed by Habiganj Police Superintendent Yasmin Khatun.
Police sources said Mahdi Hasan is currently being held at Habiganj Sadar Police Station.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement served Mahdi Hasan with a show-cause notice.
Earlier, a controversy began on Friday afternoon at Shaistaganj Police Station in Habiganj and later drew widespread attention after a video of the confrontation circulated on social media.
In the video, Mahdi Hasan, district member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Habiganj, is seen arguing with officer-in-charge Abul Kalam. During the exchange, he introduces himself as a leader of the movement and issues a series of threatening remarks, referring to past incidents of violence.
In the footage, Mahdi Hasan is heard claiming that the movement had reshaped the government and that the administration was now aligned with them. He objects to the detention of a person he refers to as “their man” and challenges the OC for questioning protesters. He also makes statements suggesting involvement in the burning of Baniachang Police Station and the killing of sub-inspector Santosh, while invoking the deaths of 17 people during earlier unrest.
Police sources said the incident stemmed from the detention of Enamul Hasan Nayan, who was picked up by Shaistaganj police early Friday morning for questioning. He was identified by police as a Chhatra League activist.
Later in the day, a group of students led by Mahdi Hasan went to the police station demanding Nayan’s release, claiming he was a “July uprising warrior.” When police declined to release him, an argument broke out between Mahdi Hasan and the OC.
According to police sources, mounting pressure eventually led to Nayan’s release. Following the spread of the video, Mahdi Hasan responded to the allegations, saying his remarks were made in the heat of the moment and were a slip of the tongue. He said he later realized his mistake.
District Police Superintendent Yasmin Khatun said she had seen the video and spoken to those involved. She said the OC informed her that Nayan had been brought to the police station solely 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 about Nayan’s political affiliation, the police superintendent said he appeared to have been associated with Chhatra League in the past but was not currently involved.