SAD leader Mahdi Hasan granted bail in Habiganj

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Habiganj district unit of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), was granted bail on Sunday after appearing before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Habiganj.

Hasan was arrested on Saturday evening by the Detective Branch (DB) from a house in Shayestaganj and later handed over to Habiganj police.

Authorities did not disclose the reason for his arrest when contacted by journalists.

His lawyer, Abdul Malek Hriday, filed a bail petition, which the court approved.

According to police, an FIR (No. 1/26) was filed at Shayestaganj Police Station accusing Hasan of obstructing government work through illegal assembly.

The arrest triggered protests by SAD leaders and activists outside the police station in Habiganj and at Shahbagh in Dhaka, demanding his immediate release.

Police, army personnel and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed to maintain law and order.

Hasan was taken to court early Sunday morning, where the magistrate granted him bail.

The incident followed the detention of Enamul Hasan Nayan, vice-president of Shayestaganj Sadar Union Chhatra League, by police late Thursday night over allegations of involvement with the banned Chhatra League.

After Nayan’s detention, SAD leaders and activists laid siege to Shayestaganj Police Station on Friday, demanding his release.

A group led by Mahdi Hasan reportedly entered the office of the officer-in-charge (OC) and argued with police officials.

A video of the incident later went viral on Facebook, showing Mahdi making controversial remarks while addressing the OC, which drew widespread criticism.

In the video, Mahdi is heard saying, “We burned down Baniachong police station, and we set SI Santosh on fire.

From that position, how dare you say, ‘So what if he is an SAD activist?’ Did so many of our brothers come here for nothing? Through the July movement, we formed the government. In this context, you are part of our administration. Yet you have arrested our people.”

Following mediation by Additional Superintendent of Police (Habiganj Sadar Circle) Shahidul Islam, Nayan was released around 3:30 pm on Friday.

Mahdi Hasan later acknowledged receiving a show-cause notice, claiming his remarks were a ‍‍`slip of the tongue‍‍`.