In a decisive move aimed at restructuring its operations, Students Against Discrimination (SAD) has announced the suspension of all its sub-committees across the country, retaining only the central body.
Rifat Rashid, president of SAD’s central committee, made the announcement at a press conference held at Shahbagh in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
As per the organisational structure, he said, all activities of the Students Against Discrimination’s committees across the country, except for the central committee, are suspended. “From now on, if anyone engages in misconduct under the name of the movement, legal action will be taken against him or her,” he added.
Rashid alleged that the defeated forces are trying to misuse the platform to defame the anti-discrimination banner. “Those involved in unethical acts must face the law and urge law enforcement agencies to take necessary action,” he added.
Further decisions on the structure and operations of the movement would be announced soon, he said.
Meanwhile, SAD expelled Ibrahim Hossain Munna, convener of its Dhaka city unit, along with members Sakadoun Siam and Sadman Sadab, citing their involvement in activities that were deemed harmful to the organisation’s principles.
According to sources, the decision comes following the arrest of four individuals, including a convenor and two SAD members, in connection with a case of attempted extortion of Tk50 lakh from the residence of Awami League leader and former MP Shammi Ahmed in the capital's Gulshan area yesterday.
"There have been, and continue to be, attempts to misuse the banner and name of the Students Against Discrimination for various unethical activities," Rifat said. "We had warned earlier that such actions would not be tolerated."
He also urged law enforcement agencies to take appropriate legal action against individuals found involved in immoral or unlawful acts under the organisation's name.
Dhaka's Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ziadur Rahman placed the four arrested on a seven-day remand following a hearing this afternoon.
The four arrested are Ibrahim Hossain Munna, Dhaka Metropolitan convenor of the Students Against Discrimination; its members Md Sakadaun Siam and Sadman Sadab, and Abdur Razzak Riyad, a central committee member of the Democratic Student Council.
Both student organisations have since expelled the four following their arrest.
According to police, the four were arrested on Saturday when the suspects allegedly returned to Shammi Ahmed's home to collect the remainder of the extorted funds.
The case statement details that on July 17, Abdur Razzak Riyad and an associate, Kazi Gaurab Opu, visited Shammi Ahmed's Gulshan-2 residence and demanded Tk50 lakh in cash, along with gold ornaments. At the time, Shammi's husband, Siddique Abu Zafar, was present and allegedly coerced into handing over Tk10 lakh under threat.
The suspects reportedly warned that failure to comply would result in Zafar's arrest, branding him a supporter of autocracy and an associate of the ruling party. They returned again on July 19, reiterating their threats and demanding the remaining Tk40 lakh.
When the accused returned on July 26 to collect the balance, police—acting on prior intelligence—detained four of them at the scene. However, Kazi Gaurab Opu reportedly fled the premises and remains at large.
Following the incident, Zafar filed a formal complaint at Gulshan Police Station, naming six individuals in the extortion case. Investigations are ongoing.
