The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM), known in Bengali as বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলন, has announced the suspension of all its regional, district, and campus-level committees across the country, keeping only the central committee active. The announcement came during an emergency press conference held at Shahbagh, Dhaka, on Sunday evening.
Rifat Rashid, former coordinator and current president of ADSM’s central committee, officially declared the suspension. “As per the unanimous decision taken at an emergency meeting on the organizational structure, all non-central committees of ADSM are hereby formally suspended from today,” he stated.
He further noted that future directions and plans regarding the movement’s structure and activities will be decided and disclosed through further internal discussion.
In a significant remark, Rashid called upon law enforcement agencies to take legal action against any individual—whether formerly associated with ADSM or not—if they are found engaged in unethical or unlawful activities. “We are committed to our principles. If anyone violates them, we urge legal authorities to act accordingly,” he said.
Also present at the press conference were Hasan Inam, member secretary of the central committee, and Shahdat Hossain, office secretary, among others.
The sweeping suspension of all local and institutional committees comes amid growing concerns over internal mismanagement, unauthorized activities, and a lack of centralized control. Although no specific incidents were mentioned, sources close to the organization suggest the move was necessary to restore ideological discipline and reassert central leadership.
ADSM has played a notable role in the aftermath of the July Uprising, advocating for student rights and fighting against systemic discrimination in education. As the organization enters a critical phase of reorganization, many are watching closely to see how it evolves in the coming months.
