Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leader Mahdi release after 21 hours in custody

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Habiganj district unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, was released on Tuesday (August 18) after spending about 21 hours in police custody.

Police released Mahdi around noon after taking a written undertaking, commonly known as a bond, according to Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Haque.

Police said Mahdi and his associates organised a procession under the banner of “students and people” in front of Court Mosque in Habiganj town around 5:30pm on Monday without prior administrative permission. Authorities feared the gathering could disrupt public order and lead to disorder in the town, prompting police to take Mahdi into custody from the scene.

He was subsequently taken to the police station and kept in custody for around 21 hours.

Mahdi’s father, Maulana Tayeb Ali, said police released his son after obtaining the undertaking on Tuesday afternoon. He said the police did not disclose what undertaking was taken or what it contained.

OC Zahidul Haque said three people, including Mahdi, were taken into police custody over concerns about a possible deterioration of law and order. They were later released after giving undertakings, he said.