A group of eminent citizens has issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the unconditional release of six coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement currently in the custody of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

If the coordinators are not released, the civil society group will stage protests in front of the DB office.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman issued the ultimatum on behalf of the ‘Bikkhubdho Nagorik Samaj’ during a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at noon on Tuesday.

In the press conference, titled “Demand for Justice for Murder, Illegal Detention, and Torture,” the citizen group also placed an 11-point demand.

Those include investigations into each casualty and instances of weapon use and force by law enforcement under the supervision of high-level UN experts.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA); Giti Ara Nasreen, Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University; Asif Nazrul, Professor of Law at Dhaka University; and human rights activist Shireen Huq, attended the press conference among others.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, seven coordinators of the quota reform movement were taken into custody.

They are-- Dhaka University students Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Abu Bakar Mazumdar, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Nusrat Tabassum, and Jahangirnagar University coordinator Arif Sohel. 

DB officials said the quota protest coordinators were taken into custody for their safety.

Except for Arif Sohel, the six coordinators announced the withdrawal of all activities related to the anti-discrimination student movement in a video message on Sunday night. 

Following the news release, other coordinators issued statements expressing disagreement.

BDST: 1737 HRS, JULY 30, 2024
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