Students protest in Sunamganj demanding release of former minister MA Mannan

Students from various educational institutions in Shantiganj upazila of Sunamganj have once again blocked the Sylhet-Sunamganj regional highway, demanding the release of former planning minister MA Mannan.

The demonstration took place this morning (22 September), lasting for about an hour and a half, causing traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.

Around 10:30am, students from Dungria High School and College started a protest march through Shantiganj Bazar, occupying the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway. They were soon joined by thousands of students from Abdul Majid College, Sunamganj Textile Institute, and Joykalas Ujanigaon Rashidia High School. 

Chanting slogans, the students marched through the highway, passing Abdul Majid College and Sunamganj Textile Institute, before staging a blockade in front of the upazila council.

The protesting students said MA Mannan has opened doors to higher education in Sunamganj. They claimed that Mannan has always worked to ensure higher education for the general students and established numerous educational institutions, including Sunamganj Science and Technology University, Medical College, Textile Institute, BITAC, and Azijun Nessa Vocational Institute. 

The protesting students also claimed that during the anti-discrimination student movement, Mannan stood by the students, voicing his support in various talk shows. 

Filing a false case and harassing such an "honest" person is unacceptable, they said. 

The students warned that if Mannan is not released unconditionally, they will launch even bigger demonstrations in the future.

On 4 August, during a student-led mass protest in Dowarabazar upazila, police and Awami League activists allegedly attacked the protesters, injuring a person named Hafiz Ahmed with gunshot, who later filed a case on 2 September. 

The case named 99 individuals and accused 200 people in total. MA Mannan, also the president of Sunamganj district Awami League, was listed as the second accused.

Mannan was arrested from his residence on 19 September and sent to Sunamganj district jail the following day. 

On 20 September morning, students protested his arrest by staging a human chain and demonstration in Shantiganj Bazar. They also blocked the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway for an hour, disrupting traffic.

MA Mannan, who first contested the 2008 general election as an Awami League candidate, was elected as a member of parliament with 1,33,566 votes. He has been re-elected consecutively four times from the Sunamganj-3 constituency.