DB arrests student activist Akram

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested Akram Hossain, general secretary of the Dhaka University (DU) unit of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad.

Confirming the matter on Thursday, Mahbub Alam, joint commissioner of  DB, said, "Akram was arrested on Thursday morning. However, it will be confirmed later which case he has been arrested for."

Leaders and activists of the student organisation say Akram was picked up at around 1.30am on Wednesday from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport premises by some plainclothes personnel of a law enforcing agency.

Former Dhaka University Central Students' Union Vice President Nurul Haque Nur demanded the immediate release of Akram.

"Law enforcement agencies are detaining our leaders and activists, harassing and torturing them, which is not legal. We want Akram and other detained leaders to be freed immediately," he added.

Acting convenor of the organisation, Md Rashed Khan, said when Akram went to the airport to take a close relative home after his flight was cancelled, he was picked up by 7-8 people claiming to be policemen. Our Training Secretary Ibrahim Nafis, who accompanied Akram, informed us of the matter.

Faruk Hasan, central joint convenor of the organisation, said the arrest of leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad started "since the anti-Modi movement."

"We urge everyone to speak out against this culture of police in plainclothes detaining people," he added.

Sources said there are two cases against Akram with Shahbagh Police Station and Motijheel Police Station.

On 13 April, the DB picked up Akhter Hossain, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad DU Unit, from the Dhaka University campus. He was later shown arrested in a case filed by Shahbagh Police Station for snatching away another accused person from Dhaka Medical College. Akhter is in jail now.