‘Don’t mock the Nation’

HC on video of feeding quota protesters at DB office

Staff Correspondent: The High Court on Monday reprimanded those involved in “making a mockery” centring the ‘detention’ and subsequent treatment of quota reform protesters.
During a hearing on a petition seeking a directive on the release of six quota reform leaders currently in custody of DB, Justice MostofaJaman Islam – who led the High Court bench – said, “You (DB Chief Harun-Or-Rashid) are feeding someone with a fork in a DB officer’s room and spreading videos of such acts on social media and other platforms; isn’t this mocking the nation?”
“Whoever you detain, you make them sit at the dining table. Who is asking you to do these things? Do not mock the nation in this manner,” he said.
The HC made this observation a day after six coordinators of the quota reform movement in Detective Branch (DB) custody announced withdrawal the ongoing students’ movement through a video clip.
On Sunday night, Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the quota reform movement, announced in a video message, while under DB custody, the withdrawal of their protest programme.This created huge controversy as to how they made the statement when they were in DB custody.
Despite this announcement, other coordinator of the quota movement from different universities including Dhaka University issued statements vowing to continue their protests until their nine-point demands are met.
The petition, filed by Supreme Court Lawyers AinunNaharSiddiqa and Manjur Al Matin, sought a directive for law enforcement agencies not to shoot at quota reform protesters during their programmes besides demanding the release of six quota reform leaders currently under the custody of the Detective Branch (DB) of police.
After the initial hearing on the writ petition yesterday, the HC set Tuesday for further hearing and passing an order in this regard later.
The cabinet secretary, secretary of the home ministry, inspector general of police, chief of army staff and others concerned have been made respondents to the petition.
At least 147 people were killed in the violence surrounding the quota reform movement, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Sunday.
The Home Minister upgraded the death toll to 150 while he placed a report on recent violence over the quota reform protests.
Meanwhile, the DB has taken six leaders of the movement to their custody, citing ‘safety concerns’.
Lawyer Z I Khan Panna, Barrister Sara Hossain, Barrister Anik R Haque and others represented of the petitioners were present during the hearing while Additional Attorney Generals Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury and Sheikh Mohammed Morshed stood for the state.
Meanwhile, speaking at a human chain programme in Supreme Court premises, the lawyers said the country history did not witness such a big number of people killed during the quota reform protests comparing to any movement over non-political demands. They held the government for violating the constituency in every step and sought justice.
Organised by Ainjibi Forum the human chain was addressed, among others, by Sara Hossain and Tabarak Hossain.