Picked up early Saturday, Nahid returns battered

Nahid Islam, a key organiser of quota reform movement, alleged he was "tortured physically" until he was unconscious.

In the early hours Saturday, he was picked up allegedly by law enforcers from a house in the capital's Sabujbagh.

Talking to The Daily Star, Nahid said, "After taking me into a room, they interrogated me over the student movement. They tortured me mentally and physically. At one point, I lost consciousness."

He was being treated at a city hospital with severe pain and deep bruises on his left thigh and shoulder.

A student of Dhaka University's sociology department, Nahid said when he gained consciousness around dawn on Sunday, he found himself dumped under a bridge in Purbachal.

"I learned where I was after looking at a signboard. After walking along the road for some time, I found a CNG and went home."

Around 12:00pm, he went to the hospital.

"On Friday night, I couldn't return home as the curfew was imposed. I was staying at a friend's house. Around 3:00am, I came to know that police are looking for me. When they came, they told me I need to go with them and then detained me."

There were around four vehicles and at least 25 plainclothes people there, he said, adding, "They blindfolded me with three or four layers of cloth."

He was then handcuffed and after around a 40-minutes-long journey, he was taken into the room and tortured.

About the other protest organisers, Nahid said the coordinators were having trouble communicating due to the internet shutdown. "Many were traceless or went to safe place or were picked up. That's why we aren't being able to reach a common decision.

"I communicated with them [the three protest organisers who met three ministers] till around 10:00pm [on Friday]. However, since then I haven't been able to contact them."

He said he later came to know that different sets of demands were issued.

"I think to avoid the situation, they gave varying statements or took their own different steps. But those do not represent the entire anti-discriminations movement panel."

About the three coordinators meeting the ministers and their demands, Nahid said, "My opinion was that we shouldn't go for any dialogue and the situation was not favourable for it. If the government takes steps to ensure our safety, then we'll decide.

"I believe they met the cabinet members in the face of pressure or to avoid any untoward situation. They said they only placed their demands but didn't have any discussion. They said the media misquoted them."

He said he will make further comments on the movement after sitting with the other coordinators and protesters.

"If the campuses are declared open; law enforcers are removed from the campuses and our safety is ensured, only then we'll make the final statement regarding our movement."

Regarding the Appellate Division's verdict yesterday, he said the SC "only gave a recommendation".

"But it's up to the government to decide whether the quota [percentages] will be increased or decreased. Until the government issues a circular or policy in this regard, it's not finalised … We'll make a comment regarding it once the government decision is given.

"We saw bloodshed, were harassed, many were killed, thousands of students and police personnel were injured … So much damage was done during this movement … These need to be addressed."

Nahid further said, "We demand justice for the victims of the killings and demand legal action against and the expulsion of the Chhatra League men. These would be among our demands."

His father Badrul Islam said after they came to know his son was picked up by the plainclothes persons, he went to the office of the Detective Branch of police but they did not give him any information.

"They only kept our phone numbers, saying they would let us know once they find out about Nahid's whereabouts. Then we went to Khilgaon Police Station to file a GD, but they did not take take it into cognizance."

Meanwhile, Faruk Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, "We have no information about this [Nahid being picked up]."

The Daily Star contacted Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan for his comments of the allegations of torture made by Nahid but he cut the line as soon as he heard the question.