'Roots run deep': Umama blasts Anti-discrimination Movement leadership after extortion arrests

Former Anti-discrimination Student Movement leader Umama Fatima has lashed out at a "culture of impunity" plaguing the organisation after one of its leaders was arrested along with four others on extortion charges in Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan neighbourhood.

Expressing outrage in a Facebook post following the arrests, the group's former spokesperson said: “People I know are acting so surprised to hear the news of the extortion by five people associated with the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. I feel like I am the least surprised.”

According to Umama, the arrested individuals had close ties to the group's top brass, bdnews24.com reports. 

“From the Secretariat to processions, meetings, fights, they have been giving protocol without any problems as the right and left hands of the coordinators,” she said, adding that there were longstanding internal complaints about what she called a “Gulshan-Banani gang culture”.

Police arrested the five in front of the home of Shammi Akhter, a former member of parliament from a reserved women’s seat, on Saturday in Gulshan-2.

Those taken into custody include Md Sakadaun Siam, Sadman Sadar, Md Ibrahim Hossain, and Abdur Razzak Riyad.

Authorities withheld the name and identity of the fifth detainee, citing that the individual is a minor.

Riad is among the joint conveners of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement’s private university wing.

Umama accused Riad of prior misconduct, alleging that he acted violently toward her at Rupayan Tower last year.

“When we girls tried to stop him, he retaliated against us,” she said.

She added that following the incident, she looked into Riad’s background and learnt of previous allegations of threats, fights, and extortion against him.

“I was not surprised at all to know that,” she said, noting that his presence, along with others like him, had been evident within the movement.

“They used to come and go freely in Rupayan Tower,” she added.

“If you complain about someone’s corruption or dishonesty, you will get a pindrop silence in return.”

In her post, Umama described a culture of impunity and deterioration within the group. “Today, after all these months, when I look at this platform, I have no words to say. They have ruined this platform in any way they can.”

She also criticised those who are now expressing shock at the arrests.

“It’s a bit ridiculous that everyone around is pretending to be so surprised by today’s news of extortion!” she wrote.

“Oh my! How innocent are people! They discovered how these boys extorted money like newborn babies?!”

“This is the first time they have been caught by the police while trying to extort money,” she said.

“If you investigate properly, you will understand that their roots are very deep.”

Following the arrests, the organisation announced the permanent expulsion of its Dhaka Metropolitan unit convener Ibrahim Hossain Munna and members Md Sakadaun Siam and Sadman Sadar.

Umama, who previously served as member secretary of the Dhaka University branch of the Students Federation, resigned from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement in June.

In a lengthy Facebook post, she cited allegations of irregularities in committee formation at the district and sub-district levels, as well as in the party council.