In a significant escalation of local tensions, over a hundred activists from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement descended upon the Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station late Saturday night. The mass demonstration was triggered by the detention of Mahdi Hasan, the district’s General Secretary for the organisation, who was apprehended by law enforcement earlier that evening. By midnight, the area surrounding the station remained congested with protesters who vowed not to depart until their leader was granted his unconditional release.
The arrest of Mahdi Hasan, a first-year undergraduate at Brindaban Government College, follows a controversial video that sparked nationwide debate. During a previous confrontation at the Shayestaganj Police Station, Hasan was recorded making inflammatory statements regarding the unrest in Baniyachung. In the footage, he was heard referencing the arson of the local police station and the tragic death of Sub-Inspector Santosh, using these events as a point of leverage during a heated argument with the Officer-in-Charge.
Incident Chronology and Key Figures
| Date & Time | Major Development | Key Individuals |
| Jan 1 (Thu) | Arrest of Enamul Hasan on BCL association charges. | Enamul Hasan, Shayestaganj Police |
| Jan 2 (Fri) | Siege of Shayestaganj Station; viral “incendiary” comments. | Mahdi Hasan, OC Abul Kalam |
| Jan 3 (Sat) 17:00 | Mahdi Hasan issues a public video apology for his remarks. | Mahdi Hasan |
| Jan 3 (Sat) 19:00 | Police officially take Mahdi Hasan into custody. | Habiganj Police Command |
| Jan 3 (Sat) 19:30 | Mass sit-in begins at Habiganj Sadar Model Station. | S.M. Russell, Faisal Amin |
The roots of the current standoff lie in the events of the previous Friday. Following the arrest of an associate, Enamul Hasan, Mahdi Hasan led a group into the office of the Shayestaganj OC. During a sharp exchange over the legitimacy of the detention, Hasan remarked, “We burned down Baniyachung station; we set fire to SI Santosh.” Though he later released a video message on Saturday afternoon claiming these words were an “unintentional slip of the tongue” caused by heightened emotions, the police moved forward with his arrest just hours later.
Outside the station on Saturday night, prominent speakers such as S.M. Russell and Mir Kader addressed the gathered crowd, criticising the police’s priorities. They argued that while perpetrators of violence against students often remain at large, a leader of the July movement was being targeted for a mere verbal error. The protesters emphasised that the current administrative transition was only possible due to the sacrifices of students, and they accused the police of attempting to diminish the movement’s legacy.
As the standoff entered the early hours of Sunday, Superintendent of Police Yasmin Khatun remained tight-lipped, informing the media that a formal statement regarding the specific charges against Hasan would be issued later. For now, the heavy presence of activists and the unwavering resolve of the student leadership suggest that the situation in Habiganj remains precariously balanced.