Committees Scrapped, But Thieves Remain” – Tushar Slams Selective Action

Renowned media personality and physician Abdan Noor Tushar has strongly condemned the current developments surrounding the recent arrest of several leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on charges of extortion. Speaking on a recent television talk show, Tushar lambasted the authorities for their selective actions and lack of accountability within the central leadership.

He remarked:

“Members of the central committee have been caught extorting money, yet instead of dissolving that committee, all other anti-discrimination committees across the country have been disbanded. This essentially means that the real culprits remain in place while the rest are punished. The thieves stay; the rest are gone.”

“Why Are the Frontline Fighters Now Extortionists?”

Tushar raised concerns about the degeneration of the movement’s original values:

“Those who once led the popular uprising of 2024 are now being caught collecting extortion money under the title of ‘coordinator.’ Why has it come to this? Who is responsible?”

He further questioned the fairness of shifting blame:

“If one person collects extortion money, another cannot be held accountable. The person who commits the act must bear the consequences—just as a thief bears responsibility for theft, and looters of democracy must be held accountable. It’s a simple truth.”

Systemic Pressure and State Machinery

Tushar claimed that the implications go beyond individual misconduct, suggesting state machinery is also complicit or manipulated:

“This isn’t limited to individuals anymore. The state’s structure is being affected. Police are being brought in from other stations for their protection. Power supply is being maintained with written orders when they hold meetings—this is a form of imposed privilege.”

He questioned whether other parties receive such treatment and pointed out their dual role:

“Are these privileges available to all other political groups? This faction exists both inside and outside the government. Isn’t this a kind of special favouritism?”

Referring to the wider context, Tushar noted:

“What we see now is just the tip of the iceberg. Eleven parts remain submerged.”

From Protest to Plunder: A Disturbing Shift

According to Tushar, the accusations of extortion are not new, and incidents have taken a darker turn:

“People’s homes were invaded, their shoes, clothes, and valuables looted. The government and its allies previously brushed these off as actions of pressure groups or outbursts of pent-up anger. They even said people needed to ‘celebrate’ after so much oppression. That celebration has now ballooned to Tk 5 million. So if one or four people are caught, what’s the harm?”

Selective Justice and Weaponised Legal Measures

Criticising the use of remand against the arrested individuals, Tushar questioned the proportionality of legal responses:

“Have the people who looted crores from banks ever been remanded? Then why such harsh treatment over Tk 5 million? It’s like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

Disappointment in His Own Political Camp

Expressing deep frustration, Tushar reflected on the contradictions within the political group he once supported:

“The same group once shouted on Facebook that if even Tk 500 or 1,000 was extorted, Tarique Rahman from London would intervene. Yet now they can’t stop extortion within their own ranks. It’s deeply disappointing.”

The Betrayal of Sacrifice

He ended with a sobering observation about the movement’s moral decay:

“Thousands have shed their blood for this cause, and now, a new plundering class is emerging from that sacrifice. Those engaging in such behaviour aren’t even 30 or 35 years old. If this is the present, what future do we face?”