Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Detective Branch (DB) Chief Harun-or-Rashid. Photo: Collected
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Detective Branch (DB) Chief Harun-or-Rashid on Monday (29 July) said that the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement for quota reform, who are currently in DB custody for “security and questioning,” will be released soon.
The DB chief also dismissed claims that the six coordinators were “coerced into issuing a statement” to end the student protests as “baseless rumour.”
"These rumours are unfounded. We urge those spreading them to stop,” he said.
Speaking to journalists at the DB office’s main gate at around 2:45 pm, Harun said, “DB is a place of trust. No one is detained here without cause, nor are statements extracted under duress. The students themselves acknowledged in writing that the government has met all their demands, which is why they decided to withdraw their movement.”
He also highlighted his own background as a former Dhaka University student, reinforcing his empathy towards the current students. “We brought these six coordinators here for their security. There are many rumours surrounding them, but we have been in touch with their families. Due to their and their families’ sense of insecurity, we took them under our protection,” he said. Harun added that the families had visited the DB office and confirmed that the students were safe and well-treated.
“As police officers, it is our duty to care for anyone who feels unsafe and seeks our help. That’s exactly what we are doing,” Harun asserted.
He reiterated that the coordinators had voluntarily issued a statement “disassociating themselves from the quota reform movement.” “Since last night, we have seen rumours suggesting they did not give this statement willingly. We firmly believe that the DB office is a place of trust, where no one is mistreated or unjustly detained. Our role is to ensure the safety of those who come to us or whom we bring in due to safety concerns,” Harun said.
When asked about the duration of their stay in DB custody, the DB chief responded, “We are in continuous dialogue with them and their families. They will be reunited with their families very soon.”
Harun also addressed concerns about the infiltration by destructive elements in the student protests. “The quota reform movement was initiated by innocent students, but it was hijacked by a group with destructive intentions, including Jamaat-BNP elements, who committed acts of violence, including the murder of a police officer and arson attacks on state properties. We believe that if these conspirators attempt to exploit the situation again, the coordinators’ safety could be compromised. Therefore, we must ensure their security,” he said.
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