Dinner at DB table mockery with nation: High Court

A writ has been filed seeking a direction not to fire live bullet on students during protests and release of six quota coordinators from the custody of Detective Branch (DB).

During the hearing of this writ on Monday (July 29), the High Court told the state, "Whoever you take to the DB office, you make him sit on the dining table. Hosting them at the dining table in DB office and posting the picture on social media is mockery to the nation. Do not joke with the nation like this.”

The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolan made the observation.

At one stage of the hearing, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury said, "I saw on TV, these six (coordinators) are eating with forks."

In reply, the court said, "Who told you to do this? Why are you doing so? Don't make fun of the nation. Whomever he takes, he sits on a dining table.

Earlier on Sunday, Additional Commissioner of Police (Detective) Mohammad Harun Or Rashid posted some pictures of him sitting at a table having food with six coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement on Facebook.

In the caption of the photo, Harun wrote, “The coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, the platform of the quota reform movement, were suffering from insecurity. So, I brought them to the DB office and talked to them.”

Earlier, lawyers Manjur Al Matin Pritom and Aynunnahar Siddika Lipy submitted the petition with the HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain.

Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police and the Army Chief have been made respondents to the writ, Assistant Attorney General Anis Ul Mawa said.

After the initial hearing on the writ petition today, the HC set Tuesday for further hearing and passing an order in this regard later.

Lawyer Z I Khan Panna, Barrister Sara Hossain, Barrister Anik R Haque and others represented of the petitioners were present during the hearing while Additional Attorney Generals Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury and Sheikh Mohammed Morshed stood for the state.

On Sunday night, Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the quota reform movement, announced in a video message, while under DB custody, the withdrawal of their protest programme.

Despite this announcement, other coordinator of the quota movement from different universities including Dhaka University issued statements vowing to continue their protests until their nine-point demands are met.