Extortion in the name of coordinator, 5 expelled

Five leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Bangladesh Democratic Student Union (BAGCHAS) have been permanently expelled on charges of extortion and breach of discipline. The two organizations announced this decision through two separate notifications on Saturday (July 26) night.

The notification signed by Shahadat Hossain, office secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said that for violating the organization's policies and discipline, the convener of the Dhaka Metropolitan branch, Ibrahim Hossain Munna, members Md. Sakadaun Siam and Sadab have been permanently expelled from all responsibilities and posts of the organization. The organization's president Rifat Rashid and general secretary Hasan Inam approved the decision. Along with this, all leaders and activists were instructed not to have organizational contact with the expelled ones.

On the other hand, in a notification sent by Baghsas' office secretary Mahfuzur Rahman, it was reported that evidence has been found of the direct involvement of the organization's central parliament joint conveners Jane Alam Apu and Abdur Razzak bin Sulaiman (Riyadh) in the extortion incident under the identity of coordinator. As a result, according to Article 3.1 of the constitution, they were also permanently expelled on the instructions of central convener Abu Baker Majumder and member secretary Zahid Ahsan for engaging in activities that are against the image and discipline of the organization.

Earlier, on Saturday evening, the police arrested five of them red-handed from Road No. 83 in Gulshan in the capital. The arrested are - Ibrahim Hossain Munna, Md. Sakadaun Siam, Sadab, Jane Alam Apu and Abdur Razzak bin Sulaiman (Riyadh). According to the police, they were trying to extort using the identity of 'coordinator'. They are currently in police custody at Gulshan Police Station and legal action is being taken in this regard.