'We burnt down Baniyachong Police Station, set SI Santosh on fire': Habiganj SAD leader to Shayestaganj OC

A video of a heated argument between police and leaders of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) movement in Habiganj has gone viral, with one leader referring to a police station arson and killing of a police officer while pressing the officer-in-charge to release a detained activist.

Police had detained Enamul Hasan Noyon, prompting several SAD leaders and activists to go to the Shayestaganj Police Station yesterday (2 January) to seek his release.

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the SAD's Habiganj district unit, at one point of the argument said, "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.

"We formed this government. Yet, you are picking up our boys. And now you are bargaining," he said.

While pressing for Noyon's release, he also told the OC, "Now I want to know with what audacity he [Noyon] was picked up."

The video footage of the heated exchange went viral on social media, drawing flak from netizens.

Following discussions between the SAD leaders and police officials, Noyon was released by Shayestaganj police around 3pm yesterday.

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 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.