Police have detained a local leader of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) in Habiganj following a heated altercation with police personnel and reported threats.
Mahdi Hasan, district member secretary of SAD, was detained around 7pm on Saturday from the Shayestanagar area of Habiganj town by the Detective Branch, Abul Kalam, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Shayestaganj Police Station confirmed.
According to police sources, the detention followed an earlier incident in which Mahdi reportedly engaged in a verbal confrontation with members of the Shayestaganj Police Station and reportedly issued threats during an exchange with the officer-in-charge.
Mahdi is currently being held at Habiganj Sadar Police Station. However.
Earlier in the day, SAD had served Mahdi with a show-cause notice over the incident.
SAD issues show-cause notice to Habiganj leader over unwarranted statements at police station
UNB reports; The central committee of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) has issued a show-cause notice to Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of its Habiganj district unit, directing him to refrain from organisational activities over making what it termed “unwarranted statements.”
The notice, signed by Office Secretary Shahadat Hossain and issued on Saturday afternoon, said Mahdi’s remarks made during a discussion with the officer-in-charge of Shayestaganj Police Station were inconsistent with the organisation’s ideology and had tarnished its image.
He has been asked to submit a clear explanation within 24 hours, detailing why he made such statements.
The action follows an incident after the detention of Enamul Hasan Nayan, vice-president of Shayestaganj Sadar Union Chhatra League, who was picked up by police late Thursday night on allegations of involvement with the banned Chhatra League.
After the detention, leaders and activists of SAD in Habiganj laid siege to Shayestaganj Police Station on Friday, demanding Nayan’s release. A group led by Mahdi Hasan reportedly entered the OC’s room and argued with police officials.
A video that later went viral on social media showed Mahdi making controversial remarks while addressing the OC, which sparked 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.”
Following the situation, Additional Superintendent of Police (Habiganj Sadar Circle) Shahidul Islam rushed to the police station and, after mediation, Nayan was released around 3:30 pm on Friday.
Mahdi Hasan later admitted receiving the show-cause notice, claiming his comments 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 later released after verification found no criminal involvement.
