Some quarters exploiting student protests for vested interests: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that certain anti-government groups are attempting to exploit the ongoing student protests, claiming that not everyone participating in the demonstrations is an HSC examinee.

Speaking at a briefing at the Secretariat on Thursday (July 16), the minister said some groups were using the movement as an opportunity to pursue political objectives.

"There are certain quarters that want to embarrass the government. They are trying to fish in troubled waters by concealing their identities and taking advantage of different issues," he said.

According to the adviser, while many protesters are genuine students, some participants are not examinees and have joined the movement with "different motives." He, however, claimed that their number is limited and that the government is not attaching significant importance to them.

The minister also spoke about efforts to bring former prime minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh through legal channels.

He said the government has already initiated the necessary legal procedures and that India will consider the matter in accordance with its own laws and legal process.

Although Sheikh Hasina has expressed her intention to return, the government intends to bring her back through due legal process, he said, adding that she would be arrested upon her return to enforce court verdicts against her. Whether she would have the opportunity to surrender voluntarily would depend on legal experts' opinions, he added.

Referring to content circulating on social media, Salahuddin Ahmed claimed that misleading information, images and videos targeting law enforcement agencies were being spread to create confusion and incite public sentiment.

He further said the government possesses the actual evidence and accused those behind the online campaign of deliberately spreading disinformation.

The minister also said efforts are continuing to bring back top fugitives and listed criminals from abroad to face legal proceedings in Bangladesh.