‘We burnt Baniachong Police Station, SI Santosh’, anti-discrimination leader says

A leader of Students Against Discrimination allegedly issued the threat during a heated exchange with an officer at Shayestaganj Police Station

A senior district leader of the Students Against Discrimination has sparked controversy after allegedly threatening police officers at Shayestaganj Police Station in Habiganj.

He allegedly invoked past violence, claiming responsibility for the burning of another police station and the killing of a sub-inspector.

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon when Mahdi Hasan, general secretary of the Habiganj district unit of the student group, went to Shayestaganj Police Station with supporters to secure the release of Enamul Hasan Nayan, a former Chhatra League leader detained earlier that day.

During a heated exchange with the station chief Md Abul Kalam, Mahdi allegedly declared: “We burnt Baniachong Police Station. We set sub-inspector Santosh on fire.”

A one-minute, 46-second video of the confrontation has gone viral on social media, showing Mahdi arguing loudly with the officer inside the police station, accompanied by several others.

Identifying himself, he said he was formerly the chief coordinator of the movement in Habiganj and is now its district secretary.

“I have come here strictly to know why my brother was arrested and why bargaining is being done,” he said. “Have all these boys come here for visas or what?”

Referring to the July Uprising, Mahdi claimed 17 people from the area were killed in protest.

“Habiganj’s sons are standing here,” he asserted, questioning the police’s authority to detain activists and suggesting that those who led the July movement had formed the current government, making the administration answerable to them.

As police attempted to respond, Mahdi repeatedly interrupted, accusing the police of ignoring images and videos sent to them showing Nayan’s involvement in the July movement.

Despite attempts by others present to calm him, Mahdi reiterated the claim about burning the police station and killing Santosh.

Police said Nayan, a former vice-president of Shayestaganj Union Chhatra League, was detained early on Friday morning.

Mahdi later arrived at the station with party activists to press for his release. After mediation by Assistant Superintendent of Police Shahidul Haque Munshi of Sadar Circle, Nayan was released.

Mahdi later told reporters that although Nayan had previously been involved with Chhatra League politics, he left the party during the July movement and fought alongside them on the front lines.

He added that the police station chief initially ignored their request to resolve the matter, prompting intervention by the assistant superintendent.

On his remarks about burning Baniachong Police Station, Mahdi said his words had “slipped out” during the argument and expressed regret.

Officer Abul Kalam said Nayan had been detained due to his past political role but was released after movement leaders showed photos and videos proving his involvement in the July movement.

During the July unrest, six people were killed by police firing in Baniachong Upazila. On Aug 5, locals surrounded Baniachong Police Station for nearly 10 hours.

Later that night, SI Santosh was dragged out, beaten to death, and his body hung from a tree outside the station. The Army recovered the body the following afternoon.

Meanwhile, the central committee of the Student Against Discrimination has suspended Mahdi Hasan’s organisational activities and issued a show-cause notice.

In a statement on the movement’s Facebook page on Saturday, the organisation said his comments, broadcast on Jan 2, were inconsistent with its ideals and had damaged its public image.

Mahdi has been asked to submit a written explanation within 24 hours, addressing why permanent disciplinary action should not be taken against him.