Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, was released after being surrounded by protesters at Khulna Press Club, following his assurance that he would convey their concerns about the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) commissioner to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Earlier on Saturday, leaders and activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement had laid siege to the KMP headquarters demanding the commissioner’s removal.
Around 5:45pm, upon learning that the press secretary was visiting the Khulna Press Club for a courtesy meeting with journalists, the protesters moved to the location and blocked its main gate, effectively confining him inside.
At around 7pm, Sajidul Islam, central joint coordinator of the movement, addressed the press secretary: “We’ve been protesting for three days, and the home affairs adviser hasn’t even inquired about us. If you want to talk, talk to all 200 of us — not just 2 or 5 people inside the press club. As press secretary to the chief adviser, you must inform him of our demands. Otherwise, we won’t let you leave.”
Later, the press secretary met with the protesters at the Humayun Kabir Balu auditorium around 7:45pm, where he listened as they presented their case, emphasizing the rise in crime during the current commissioner’s tenure and justifying their demand for his resignation.
After the meeting, he left the press club under the protection of army and navy personnel around 8:15pm.
