SAD issues show-cause notice to Habiganj leader Mahdi over remarks at police station
Students Against Discrimination (SAD) today (3 January) issued a show-cause notice to Mahdi Hasan, a district-level leader of the organisation, following widespread criticism of his remarks regarding the arson of a police station and the killing of an officer, made while he was demanding the release of a detained activist at Shayestaganj Police Station in Habiganj.
The notice was served this afternoon, according to a post on SAD's official Facebook page.
In the notice, SAD directed Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the organisation's Habiganj district unit, to refrain from all organisational activities until further notice.
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The show-cause notice, signed by Shahadat Hossain, office secretary of the organisation, stated that remarks made by Mahdi Hasan at the Shayestaganj Police Station yesterday (2 January) were broadcast in the media.
The central committee said the comments were inconsistent with the organisation's ideals and had harmed its public image.
Mahdi Hasan has been asked to provide a written explanation within 24 hours, through the organisational office, to SAD Central President Rifat Rashid, explaining why permanent disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
Until a decision is made, he has been barred from participating in any activities of the organisation.
The incident occurred after police detained Enamul Hasan Noyon, prompting several SAD leaders and activists to go to the Shayestaganj Police Station to demand his release.
During the exchange with the police, Mahdi Hasan was heard saying, "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."
He was referring to incidents at the station on 5 August 2024, including the killing of Sub-Inspector (SI) Santosh Chowdhury.
He also said, "We formed this government. Yet, you are picking up our boys. And now you are bargaining."
While pressing for Noyon's release, he also told the OC, "Now I want to know with what audacity he [Noyon] was picked up."
A video of the exchange later circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from netizens.
Police said 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, following discussions between SAD leaders and police officials, Noyon was released from the police station around 3pm the same day.
When contacted, Mahdi Hasan defended his stance, saying, "If a person becomes a criminal just for being in the Chhatra League, then among those who were our main coordinators, such as Sarjis Alam bhai, he was also involved with the Chhatra League at one time; in that case, he would also be a criminal.
"Even though Enamul Hasan Noyan previously did Chhatra League, he was a front-line warrior of the July movement. Even after providing proof of this to the police, they were not willing to release Noyan. On the contrary, the OC of the station told us, 'So what if he participated in the movement, he was in the Chhatra League at one time'."
Regarding the confrontation, Mahdi Hasan said he had first attempted to resolve the issue through discussion with the officer-in-charge, but the situation escalated after his concerns were not addressed.
Shayestaganj Police Station OC Abul 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 5 August 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.
