ONLINE DESK
All regional committees of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement across the country have been suspended, excluding the central committee.
The decision was announced by Rifat Rashid, president of the movement’s central committee and former student coordinator of the July uprising, during an emergency press conference held at Shahbagh in Dhaka on Sunday evening, following recent allegations of extortion against some of its members at the residence of a former member of parliament in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
Rifat said the ADSM platform is being misused by individuals operating under various names, some of whom have affiliated themselves with different political parties.
“Under the protection of those parties and using the banner of the movement, many former July uprising participants are now involved in various wrongful activities,” he claimed, adding that such actions have become impossible for the leadership to control.
“We had warned from the beginning that no form of wrongdoing would be tolerated,” Rifat said.
“Accordingly, we held a meeting with the members of our organogram. As per that meeting’s decision, all committees except the central one are hereby formally suspended,” he added.
Regarding the movement’s future, Rifat said: “We will sit down to decide how the platform should proceed. This movement was born from the July mass uprising, and we want to make it clear that the platform will not engage in any activity that contradicts the spirit of that uprising.”
He emphasized that those who truly uphold the values of the July uprising and wish to sustain the movement must do so without expecting financial gain or access to power. “Even so, we will reach out to those who are genuinely willing to work,” he said.
Addressing law enforcement agencies, Rifat said: “From today, if anyone tries to commit any wrongdoing using the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, please take action against them. If any assistance is needed, we are willing to cooperate while remaining respectful of the law.”