‘Extortion and corruption’: Activities of all Anti-discrimination Movement committees suspended nationwide

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement (AdSM) has suspended activities of its committees nationwide, except for the central one, amid widespread allegations of extortion and corruption involving its activists in parts of Bangladesh.

Announcing the decision at an emergency briefing in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Saturday, the organisation’s President Rifat Rashid said: “Across the country, we are witnessing a surge in extortion and corruption being carried out in the name of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

“We had vowed to resist such practices. However, under the influence of different organisations, activists of our multiple units have gotten involved in graft.”

He continued, “When these committees were formed, those responsible for their formation later became affiliated with different political parties and ideologies. Encouraged by them, the July Movement activists have gone astray. At this point, it has become impossible for us to control them.

“Therefore, in accordance with our organisational guidelines, we have officially suspended the activities of all units nationwide, excluding the central committee.”

On Saturday, police arrested four Anti-discrimination Movement leaders and another individual in Dhaka’s Gulshan-2 while allegedly attempting to collect extortion money.

They were apprehended outside the residence of Shammi Akhter, a former member of parliament from a reserved women’s seat.

On Sunday, police obtained a seven-day remand for four of the arrestees.

Those remanded are: Abdur Razzak Riyad, acting convenor of the United International University unit of the Movement; Ibrahim Hossain, expelled convenor of the Dhaka Metropolitan unit; and members Sakadaun Siam and Sadman Sadab.

The fifth accused in the case is a minor.

Even before this incident, reports of extortion and irregularities by senior leaders of the organisation had surfaced in parts of the country.

The Anti-Discrimination Movement held the briefing following the media coverage of the Gulshan incident.