Mahdi Hasan released after signing bond

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Habiganj district unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, was released nearly 21 hours after being taken into police custody during a protest. He left Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station at around 2:30 pm Tuesday along with several others who had also been in police custody.

Police said Mahdi was released after signing a bond following measures to maintain law and order. Sadar Model Police Station Officer in Charge (OC) Zahidur Rahman told reporters, “Mahdi was taken into police custody for security reasons. He was later released after signing a bond following measures to maintain law and order.”

At around 5:15 pm Monday, police took Mahdi into custody from in front of Court Mosque in the city. Protesters had gathered there under the banner of “people from all walks of life” to protest increases in gas and electricity prices and load shedding. Police went there and asked Mahdi to accompany them. Witnesses said he refused to go, after which police dragged him and put him into a police vehicle.

However, no statement was available from Mahdi Hasan on the matter after his release.

It is worth noting that Mahdi became known for regularly speaking on behalf of the organization during the 2024 Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. He was also active in the anti-government movement until August 5 of that year. His profile later grew further as he spoke to the media and remained vocal on social media about various irregularities.

On January 1, police detained a young man named Enamul Hasan Nayan at Shayestaganj Police Station, identifying him as a Chhatra League activist. Mahdi then went to the police station with his followers and asked why Nayan had been detained. A video of the incident later circulated on social media.

In the video, referring to the ‘Nine Murders’ in Baniachong the day after Sheikh Hasina left the country, Mahdi was heard saying, “But we had burned down the police station, we had burned SI Santosh alive.”

He was later accused of threatening the OC through the statement and securing Nayan’s release. After criticism over the incident began, police arrested Mahdi. He was later granted bail by the court.