In Bangladesh, three leaders of the ‘Students Against Discrimination’ were taken to the custody of the Detective Branch of Dhaka police on Friday afternoon, citing security threats to them. Three coordinators — Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumder of the Students Against Discrimination were taken into the Detective Branch (DB) police custody, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)’s additional commissioner Mohammad Harun-ar-Rashid told journalists on Friday night.
The DB’s chief claimed that three coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination were taken to their custody “for the sake of their security.”
Earlier, three coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination — Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumder — were picked up from a hospital in Dhaka on Friday afternoon. Two of the coordinators were being treated for injuries at the Hospital.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman also confirmed at a press conference on Saturday that three quota protest organisers have been taken into custody for their own safety. “They themselves were feeling insecure. They thought some people giving them advice were threatening them,” he said.
“So, we think it is necessary to know who is threatening them. This is why they have been called,” he added. The home minister did not confirm whether the trio had been formally arrested.
The minister also said the situation was getting normal after waves of deadly violence and clashes during the quota reform protests for nearly a week.
The ongoing curfew will be lifted once the situation completely normalises, he said and added that the next decision on the restrictions will be announced on Saturday.
By Navalsang Parmar (Dhaka)
