Friday, 21st August 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 7th January 2026, 1:43 PM
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has formally announced a set of three demands and three corresponding programmes, calling for the unconditional release of Habiganj district branch secretary Mahdi Hasan and July activist Tahreema Jannat Suravi.
The announcement was made on Wednesday at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen during a press conference led by the organisation’s president, Rifat Rashid. The movement outlined its demands as follows:
Immediate and unconditional release of Mahdi Hasan and Tahreema Jannat Suravi.
Formation of an independent inquiry committee to investigate harassment by police and administrative officials, including Omar Farooq, and to take punitive action.
Granting immunity to all student, worker, and public participants in the July uprising from 1 July to 8 August, via a presidential ordinance within 24 hours.
Rashid further emphasised that officers and employees of the army, navy, air force, and civil and semi-civil administrations who contributed significantly to the July uprising should have their roles formally documented. Their recognition, legal protection, and safeguards against workplace harassment must be ensured. In addition, officers deprived of promotions or sensitive postings since 25 February 2009 due to authoritarian pressures should receive accelerated promotions and appointments.
| Programme No. | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Compilation of a list of police station officers (OSCs) and district SPs responsible where students and citizens were martyred during the July uprising, to be submitted to the ICT Tribunal for legal action. |
| 2 | Engage with the President’s legal and interior advisors to ensure issuance of the Indemnity Ordinance. |
| 3 | Meet leaders of the two largest political alliances to secure recognition of the revolutionary spirit of July in their electoral manifestos and to ensure the protection of July activists. |
At the press conference, Mahdi Hasan highlighted that while nationwide victory parades were underway, nine individuals were shot dead in his home district of Habiganj. He criticised the commercialisation of cases at local police stations and recounted his own arrest after protesting the detention of a fellow July activist.
Tahreema Jannat Suravi recounted her experience of mistreatment in detention, stating, “The very police who used to call me ‘Apu’ subjected me to cruel treatment. I spent 11 days in jail without family contact and was remanded twice. I am non-partisan and participated purely for the country.” She demanded immediate release from the case.
The movement has declared that its programmes will continue nationwide until justice, recognition, and security for all July activists are fully ensured.
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