Six coordinators of the quota reform movement claimed they were forced by the detective branch (DB) of police to announce withdrawal of the ongoing protest. 

They claimed this through a joint statement issued to the media on Friday (August 2). 

In the statement, the six coordinators claimed DB shot the video of eating by force in the office.

“In the DB office we were forced to sit on the dining table and filmed. The family was called and held for 13 hours with assurances that we would be released and false statements were made to the media. Our teachers came to meet but were not allowed to meet,” according to the release.

According to the statement, coordinators Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker started a hunger strike while detained in the DB office since July 30 night, in protest against the detention of coordinators, arrest and torture of students across the country. 

Later, after hearing that news Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah and Nusrat Tabassum also started hunger strike.

The statement was signed by Nahid Islam, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Asif Mahmud, Nusrat Tabassum, and Abu Baker Majumdar.

The six were released from DB custody around noon yesterday.

BDST: 1435 HRS, AUGUST 2, 2024
MSK