A section of students reject SAD's Habiganj ‘pocket committee’

A section of students in Habiganj has rejected the newly-announced district committee of the Students Against Discrimination, branding it a "pocket committee" and demanded its dissolution within 48 hours.

At a press conference at the Habiganj Press Club at 11:00am today, Enamul Haque Shakib, joint convener of the newly-formed committee, alleged that committee positions were distributed through financial transactions, sidelining dedicated activists.

"The people of Habiganj know my contributions to the anti-discrimination movement. However, incompetent individuals have secured key positions by purchasing them. I was made a joint convener instead of being given a significant role because I refused to pay. Those who bought positions have been appointed as convener and member secretary," he claimed.

He further alleged that individuals affiliated with different political organisations had been accommodated in the committee.

"Arif Talukder, linked to Chhatra Dal, has been appointed convener; Mahdi, from the central committee of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, has been made member secretary; and Sujan, allegedly associated with Shibir, has been given the role of main organiser. Even former Chhatra League leaders have been rehabilitated, which is a betrayal of the spirit of the mass movement," he said.

Shakib also said, out of 224 members, 200 are men, 24 are women, and only one belongs to a religious minority. Women and minorities played a crucial role in the mass uprising, yet they have been largely ignored. Additionally, despite six individuals from Baniachong being martyred during the anti-discrimination student movement, none of their representatives were included in the committee.

Terming the committee "a betrayal of the people of Habiganj", Shakib, along with 45 fellow activists, declared it undesirable and vowed to resist its activities in the district.

The press conference was attended by newly-formed district committee co-member secretary Suraiya Samantha Pushpita, along with members Sheikh Hridoy, Shafiqul Islam Manna, Ishtiaq Ahmed, and Bahubol Upazila coordinator Arafatuzzaman Shaon, among others.

On Tuesday, the 224-member committee for the Habiganj district branch of the movement was announced. The same day, a group of students staged broom processions at various locations in Habiganj town protesting the decision.