An argument between police and leaders of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) at a police station in Habiganj has drawn attention after a video went viral on social media, showing a SAD leader making references to past acts of violence while demanding the release of a detained activist.
Police had detained Enamul Hasan Noyon, prompting several SAD leaders and activists to go to the Shayestaganj Police Station on Friday to seek his release.
During discussions with police officials, a heated exchange took place, parts of which were later shared widely online, drawing flak from netizens.
In the video footage, several SAD leaders and activists are seen sitting in front of the station's officer-in-charge (OC) and other police personnel.
At one point, Mahdi Hasan, general secretary of the SAD's Habiganj district unit, is heard saying, "We formed this government. Yet, you are picking up our boys. And now you are bargaining."
Referring to incidents at the station on 5 August 2024, including the killing of Sub-Inspector (SI) Santosh, He continued, "Seventeen people were martyred here. Habiganj is one of the places where the most crucial movements took place. We burnt down Baniyachong police station, set SI Santosh on fire. Now I want to know with what audacity he [Noyon] was picked up."
Following discussions between the SAD leaders and police officials, Noyon was released by Shayestaganj police around 3pm on Friday.
According to police, Noyon's name appears as a vice-president in the 2023 committee of the local unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the now-banned student wing of the Awami League.
However, SAD leaders claimed he was active during the 2024 July Uprising, which led to the ousting of the Awami League government. Police said Noyon was detained due to his listed position in the Chhatra League committee.
After news of his detention spread, SAD activists gathered at the police station yesterday afternoon to demand his release. Led by Mahdi Hasan, the group held discussions with Shayestaganj police OC Abul Kalam, during which the verbal dispute occurred.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Shahidul Islam later went to the station and mediated, after which Noyon, son of Anwar Ali of Kalimnagar village in Shayestaganj upazila, was released.
Speaking to reporters, Mahdi said Noyon had "actively participated in the movement to topple the autocracy" even though he was a Chhatra League leader.
However, Mahdi declined to comment on the remarks made during the exchange with the police.
OC Kalam said Noyon was initially detained at his home around midnight on Thursday (1 January) due to his organisational affiliation, but was released after police found evidence of his participation in the movement.
Notably, on August 5, 2024, SI Santosh Chowdhury was killed at the Baniyachong Police Station during mob violence, and his body was later hung from a tree.
Earlier that day, nine people were killed in police firing in the area after a clash with protesters.
BBC Bangla published a report on the killing on 25 July 2025, which raised allegations that the officer had been specifically targeted. The report was later withdrawn.
