Students Declare Hasnat Abdullah ‘Unwelcome’ in Chattogram Over Controversial Committee Formation

Local Correspondent

Fifty members of the anti-discrimination student movement in Chattogram resigned from three local committees, declaring the movement’s central convenor, Hasnat Abdullah, and member secretary, Arif Sohel, “unwelcome” in the district. They demanded the dissolution of the newly formed committees and set a deadline for the central committee to establish new ones, threatening road blockades if their demands were not met.

At a press conference held at the S. Rahman Auditorium of the Chattogram Press Club on Tuesday afternoon, a faction of the movement’s activists made these announcements.

On Monday night, the central committee approved a six-month interim structure comprising 754 members across the Chattogram metropolitan, northern, and southern districts. The approval sparked widespread debate and criticism among student activists.

Coordinator Jubayer Manik criticized the committee, stating, “All three committees in Chattogram are a farce. Participants in the July uprising were ignored, while extortionists, perpetrators of harassment, and juvenile gang members were included in the committees.”

He alleged that central committee member Rasel Ahmed was unaware of the formation, and that Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi, another coordinator, influenced Hasnat Abdullah and Arif Sohel to approve the controversial committees.

“We declare these committees invalid and have pronounced Hasnat Abdullah, Arif Sohel, and Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi unwelcome in Chattogram until they are dissolved,” Manik added.

On February 17, shortly after midnight, the central committee approved the 754-member interim structure for the Chattogram region. The controversial move has led to a significant rift within the anti-discrimination student movement.