Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) detained a journalist on Thursday evening, mistaking him for a suspect in a case related to attacks and murders during an anti-discrimination student movement. 

However, Dhaka Tribune photojournalist Mehedi Hasan Sagar was released five hours later after signing a bond.

Mehedi Hasan was arrested around 6 pm in the capital's Kakrail area, and he was released at around 10:45 pm under the custody of his colleagues. 

The matter was confirmed at around 1:45 am by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mamun of DB's Lalbagh Zone, who said that Sagar had been released after a bond was signed.

Earlier in the evening, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of DMP's Media and Public Relations Division, Mohammad Talebur Rahman, informed the media about Sagar’s arrest via a press release. 

The statement said that Mehedi Hasan Sagar was taken into custody in connection with a case filed at Shahbagh Police Station concerning the student protests.

However, further inquiries revealed that there are two individuals named Mehedi Hasan Sagar linked to Dhaka University (DU). The accused in the Shahbagh Police Station case, listed as suspect number 134, holds a position as an organisational secretary of the university’s banned student group. 

Meanwhile, detained photojournalist Mehedi Hasan Sagar also holds a position in the same committee as secretary of information and research. Both individuals study in DU’s Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, under the 2017–18 session.

This confusion over identical names led to the unintended detention of the photojournalist, highlighting an apparent oversight in verifying identities before arrest.

BDST: 1028 HRS, NOV 01, 2024
MSK