Mahdi Hasan, now expelled Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leader who went viral after threatening a police officer on video, has finally been arrested in Habiganj.
Member secretary of the organisation’s Habiganj unit, Mahdi’s video of threatening Shaistaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Kalam with violence has been widely circulated on social media.
Confirming the matter, Kalam said Mahdi was arrested on Saturday evening.
Habiganj Superintendent of Police Yasmin Khatun stated that district police have taken Mahdi into custody. Details regarding the case under which he was arrested will be disclosed later.
Mahdi had gone to Shaistaganj Police Station on Friday to secure the release of a youth detained by police. There, he got into an altercation with the OC. A video of the conversation spread on social media, sparking discussion and criticism.
In response, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement expelled Mahdi.
The viral video shows Mahdi engaging in an argument with the OC inside the police station.
At one point, claiming to be a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, he tells the OC, “We have reformed the government through our movement. The administration in this area is our people. You have arrested and brought in our boy. You are arguing with us.
“Now you are saying, so what if I am an activist? We have 17 martyrs here. We burned down the Baniachong Police Station. We burned SI Shantosh alive. I want to know what gave you the courage to say this to me?”
Mahdi was arrested within 24 hours of this video going viral.
In this regard, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s page wrote: “The Superintendent of Police of Habiganj district, Yasmin Khatun, has admitted to arresting Mahdi Hasan, citing various vague and illogical reasons including formally threatening the OC and fears of the electoral environment being disrupted.
“The Superintendent of Police of Habiganj district and the Officer-in-Charge of Shayestaganj police station must be withdrawn immediately for the unjustified arrest of July fighter Mehedi Hasan.”
