On July 29, the High Court expressed strong disapproval of the treatment of quota reform protesters in custody, highlighting concerns about the actions of law enforcement officials. During a hearing on a petition seeking the release of six detained quota reform leaders, Justice Mostofa Jaman Islam, head of the High Court bench, rebuked Detective Branch (DB) Chief Harun-Or-Rashid. The justice criticized the DB for circulating videos on social media showing detainees being fed with a fork in a DB officer’s room, calling it a “mockery” of the nation.
Justice Islam questioned the necessity of such actions, stating, “Whoever you detain, you make them sit at the dining table. Who is asking you to do these things? Do not mock the nation in this manner.”
The petition, submitted by Supreme Court lawyers Ainun Nahar Siddiqa and Manjur Al Matin, called for the release of the six detained leaders and sought a directive preventing law enforcement agencies from using firearms against quota reform protesters during their demonstrations. The court has scheduled a verdict on the writ for July 30.
Respondents to the petition include the cabinet secretary, the home ministry secretary, the inspector general of police, the chief of army staff, and other relevant officials.
The quota reform movement has been marked by significant violence, with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan reporting that 147 people have been killed in related incidents as of July 28. The DB has justified the detention of the six movement leaders by citing “safety concerns.”
The High Court’s stern remarks reflect ongoing concerns about the conduct of law enforcement in handling protests and the treatment of detainees, highlighting a broader debate on civil rights and state authority in Bangladesh.