6 student coordinators withdraw program in DB Police custody

Six job quota reform student coordinators in Police custory. Of them Md Nahis Islam is seen reading out a written statement. Photo via RTV News.

Six coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement have announced the withdrawal of all programs as they remain in DB Police custody for a couple of days. 

Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the movement, announced this in a video message on Sunday (July 28) night. Five other coordinators in custody are: Md. Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Md. Abu Bakr Majumdar, Asif Mahmud and Nusrat Tabassum.

In the video statement he condemned the violence and unwanted incidents, demanded investigation and justice and urged to open all the educational institutions quickly by ensuring fair environment.

Nahid Islam said, "Many people were unexpectedly injured and killed due to the quota reform movement and the situation that arose in its wake." Moreover, there have been many violent incidents including arson in state buildings. We strongly condemn these incidents. I demand speedy trial subject to fair investigation.

He said, "Our main demand was the logical reform of the quota which has already been fulfilled by the government." Now I urge the government to open educational institutions quickly to ensure a fair environment for education.

One of the coordinators of the movement said from custody, "We are withdrawing our program from this moment in the interest of all."

However, other coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement rejected the program announcement of the 6 coordinators. In this regard, coordinator Abdul Quader told the media, "The coordinators have been given statements while remaining in hostage. The coordinators read out the statement written by the intelligence agencies in the face of fear, we reject the statement and protest against the coercion of the statement. Our movement will continue.

Another coordinator, Abdul Hannan Masud, said, "The coordinators were blackmailed and read written statements at the DB office. The student community will not accept this statement.

Co-coordinator Hasib Al Islam said, 'We don't know why they took such a decision. We were not prepared to hear such a decision. As they are the main force of this movement. By sitting with them we will know what was the reason behind it. Then we will announce our decision.'

Prior to the issuance of the statement at Sunday night, about a dozen teachers of Dhaka University and the mother of Md. Nahid Islam had gone to the DB office. While the teachers wanted to see all the quota reform coordinators, Nahid's mother wanted to see her son. They were refused, according to news published in different sections of the News media.