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Published : 29 Jun 2025, 02:02 AM
Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief advisor, has come under intense pressure from demonstrators demanding the removal of Commissioner Md Zulfikar Ali Hayder in Khulna.
The incident occurred during his visit to the Khulna Press Club on Saturday afternoon.
As part of a continuing protest campaign, members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and allied student and political groups blocked roads and surrounded the press club shortly after 5pm, shouting slogans and calling for the commissioner’s dismissal.
The protesters declared that the press secretary would not be allowed to leave the premises without a commitment to their demand.
“We’ve been protesting for three days, yet the home advisor hasn’t checked on us,” said Sajidul Islam Bappy, a central co-organiser of the student movement.
“You are the chief advisor’s press secretary. Either inform him of the matter, or you’re not leaving.”
After a prolonged standoff lasting nearly three hours, Shafiqul held talks with the protesters at the Humayun Kabir Balu Auditorium inside the club. He eventually left the premises at 8:05pm escorted by police, Army, and Navy personnel, according to witnesses.
Journalists present at the press club said the press secretary had initially visited the deputy commissioner’s office earlier in the day for a meeting with journalists stationed in Khulna.
He arrived at the Khulna Press Club late in the afternoon and was caught off guard by the protesters.
The demonstrations, which began earlier in the day, were part of a scheduled campaign spearheaded by the Anti-Discrimination Movement.
By the afternoon, they were joined by students from local colleges and universities, as well as members of BNP-affiliated Jatiayatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal.
Learning of the press secretary’s presence at the club, protesters moved in and surrounded the building. They began chanting and refused to allow officials to leave until they had conveyed their demands.
Enamul Haque, convenor of the Khulna Press Club, confirmed that no one, including the press secretary, was allowed to exit during this period.
“A portion of the ongoing protest moved in front of the press club and effectively locked everyone in,” he said.
After prolonged tension, Shafiqul agreed to sit with the demonstrators.
The meeting took place around 7:45pm.
He was accompanied by Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad.
Speaking to bdnews24.com later, Foyez clarified the nature of the interaction.
“They asked to meet us after learning we were here. Their primary demand is the resignation of the Khulna police commissioner,” he said.
He added that they invited the protesters upstairs for a discussion after the press club event concluded.
“They told us they had numerous complaints against the commissioner and wanted us to relay those to the chief advisor. We assured them we would pass the message on.”
“We made no promises, nor did they ask for any. We only said, ‘We’ll inform him, but your movement is your own decision’.”
Foyez also noted that the protesters requested assistance and advice for a series of events they plan to organise throughout July.
“They asked for coordination support via the deputy commissioner. We said we would look into that.”
He disputed speculations that the press secretary had been forcibly confined.
“Yes, they’ve been protesting near the press club for days, but during our meeting, they didn’t surround us in that sense,” he said.
“They trusted we could carry their message upward, and that’s why they sought a conversation. So it would be incorrect to label this as a confinement. It was a peaceful effort to make their voices heard.”
The incident marked a new phase in the growing campaign against Commissioner Zulfikar, whose removal has become a central demand of local student and BNP-aligned protest groups in Khulna.
The government has yet to respond to their calls.
