Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Dhaka Metropolitan unit have strongly denied allegations of operating a torture cell, while admitting an individual was assaulted. They claimed recent news aired by Desh TV and other media outlets was “false, misleading, and politically motivated.”
Speaking at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Thursday, Joint Conveners Sadman Sanjid, Rifatul Haque Shawon, and Md Parvez expressed their discontent over the media portrayal of the incident.
Regarding the February 7 attack on the house of a Swechchhasebak League leader in Mirpur Shah Ali area, Shawon stated, “We were not involved in the attack. It was an angry mob that targeted the residence of a man who is an accused in several murder cases linked to the July killings.” He claimed that Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders immediately rushed to the scene and attempted to control the situation.
Refuting the Desh TV report which alleged extortion and torture inside a “cell”, the leaders said the story was entirely baseless. They explained that Parvez, a member of the Shah Ali unit and grandson of one Amjad Hossain, had informed the organisation about a business dispute involving contractor Amirul Islam. According to Sanjid, Amirul had started a sub-contracted project in Rajbari in January 2023 but had been using political intimidation tactics to delay payment.
“Amirul turned out to be a distant relative of our central convenor Jamil Taj. Since it became a personal issue, we asked both parties to resolve the matter themselves,” said Sanjid. He added that Amirul later issued two cheques and signed stamp papers as a form of assurance to repay Amjad.
Shawon further alleged that, at one point, former chairman of Pangsha Upazila Awami League, Farid Hasan Odud, called Amirul during the dispute. WhatsApp messages from Amirul’s phone allegedly revealed sensitive information exchanges with Awami League figures, and false propaganda against BNP, NCP, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Angered by this, local leader Mithu reportedly assaulted Amirul, prompting the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders to intervene and demand an apology from Amirul in the presence of Jamil Taj.
The leaders claimed that footage of the incident was manipulated and turned into a defamatory news report by Desh TV, falsely branding the incident as extortion.
They also categorically denied allegations of lobbying the director general of the Directorate of Primary Education through threats. “We have never met the DG and do not even know him,” they said, calling the alleged lobbying story — based on a photo of Nahid Islam — fabricated and driven by ill intention.
Accusing certain media outlets of engaging in a “media trial,” the leaders closed the briefing by asserting their financial transparency. Shawon described himself as a salaried employee, while Sanjid said he is a businessman. Both claimed to have publicly disclosed their bank and mobile banking statements to prove their integrity.
Also present at the press conference were Shah Ali unit secretary Md Parvez and his grandfather Md Amjad Hossain.