Home Minister claims many protesters are not genuine students

Home Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed has claimed that many of those participating in demonstrations demanding the resignation of the Education Adviser are not genuine students or examination candidates, alleging that some groups are attempting to exploit the protests to embarrass the government.

He made the remarks on Thursday (16 July) while responding to questions from journalists after attending an event at the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Secretariat.

Speaking about the ongoing demonstrations, the Home Adviser said the government believes that not everyone taking part in the movement is directly connected to educational institutions. According to him, a number of individuals have concealed their identities and joined the protests with motives unrelated to students’ concerns. He alleged that certain groups were attempting to take advantage of the situation by using the issue to pursue broader objectives against the government.

His comments came amid continued protests by groups demanding the resignation of the Education Adviser following public criticism over one of the adviser’s recent remarks. Responding to questions about the controversy, Salahuddin Ahmed said the Education Adviser had already expressed regret over the statement in Parliament. In his view, the matter had been addressed, and he had nothing further to add.

Asked how the government was assessing the demonstrations, the Home Adviser said the administration was not treating the protests as a major issue. He argued that the movement remained limited in scale, claiming that gatherings had been observed only in a few locations in Dhaka and in one or two districts outside the capital. He also suggested that extensive media coverage had made the demonstrations appear more widespread than their actual size.

Journalists also raised concerns about the public inconvenience caused by road blockades organised by protesting students. In response, Salahuddin Ahmed said a culture had emerged during the tenure of the interim government in which groups sought to secure demands by gathering at the Secretariat, calling for examinations to be postponed or seeking to pass without sitting examinations. He argued that traces of that tendency were still visible in some of the current demonstrations.

Addressing allegations of police action against protesters, as well as claims circulating on social media, the Home Adviser rejected accusations that excessive force had been used. He described the circulation of old photographs and videos in connection with the recent protests as “disinformation”, saying that authentic images and footage of the incidents were already available. According to him, some individuals were attempting to create confusion by sharing outdated or unrelated content online.

When asked whether any political parties or banned organisations were involved in the protests, Salahuddin Ahmed did not identify any specific group. Instead, he said that regardless of who might be behind the movement, the government and law enforcement agencies remained in charge of maintaining public order and responding to the situation in accordance with their responsibilities.

The remarks reflect the government’s current position on the ongoing demonstrations, while the demands raised by protesters continue to attract public attention in different parts of the country.