Three coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement were allegedly picked up by plain-clothed police from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital on Friday afternoon.

Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, and Abu Baker Majumder had been receiving treatment at the hospital for the past two days.

Last week, they were reportedly taken away by plain-clothed police, and their whereabouts remained unknown for several days.

On Friday around 3 pm, a number of plain-clothed police officers burst into the treatment rooms where the three were receiving treatment.

Fatema Tasnim, Nahid Islam's sister, informed Bangla Outlook by phone that there were six individuals who did not disclose their identities.

"They aggressively demanded that all three accompany them," Fatema recounted. "They [the protest coordinators] were still receiving treatment, with their intravenous saline drips in place, when they were forcibly taken away."

Nahid was experiencing severe pain in his left leg due to a brutal beating he endured during a previous 24-hour disappearance.

Photos of his severely bruised legs circulated widely in mainstream media and gained significant traction on social media when internet access was restored.

Along with the photos, Nahid's statement about the merciless beating he suffered also garnered considerable attention online.

Earlier today, Asif, one of the coordinators, told Bangla Outlook that he and two others have been placed under “house arrest” in the Gonoshasthaya hospital by the Detective Branch (DB) of the police.

Asif and Abu Bakr, both students at Dhaka University, were found blindfolded near a city road on Wednesday after being “missing” for five days.

Asif wrote on Facebook that he was subjected to intense pressure to abandon the ongoing movement. When he refused, he was repeatedly injected with an unknown substance to render him unconscious.

On Friday morning, Asif reported that DB police were stationed outside the ward, with a heavy presence of police, BGB, and RAB personnel in front of the hospital.

“We are completely isolated and unable to communicate with anyone. Even though we came here for medical treatment, we are encountering numerous difficulties,” he said.

The hospital scenario

When Bangla Outlook arrived at the hospital around 4:30 pm, the premises looked deserted and weary. A solitary policeman was sitting at the gate, casually eating puffed rice.

When asked if the three protesters had been "forcefully taken away" from the hospital, the policeman claimed ignorance. “I’ve been here for the past half hour and didn’t see anything.”

A local tea vendor told Bangla Outlook that two RAB vehicles had been parked in front of the hospital since the morning. “They suddenly left around 3:45.”

Another fruit vendor reported that, in addition to the two RAB vehicles, there was also a microbus, all of which had departed by 3:45.

Inside the hospital, staff on the ground floor denied any knowledge of the situation.

When asked about the student protesters, the female receptionist furnished a surprised look and said: “Student protestors? I thought they all left the day before yesterday.”

Later, when Bangla Outlook informed her that local vendors had confirmed the presence of at least two RAB vehicles outside the hospital at 3:45, the receptionist responded, “I didn’t see anything.”

She then paused and added, “Please don’t ask me anything.”

Bangla Outlook then went to the third floor and inquired with another staff member about accessing the CCTV footage for that floor. The staff member replied, “I don’t know who manages the security cameras. It’s Friday and we’re short-staffed today.”

At least two officers from the DB were contacted over the phone but they said they were not aware of any “such incident” today.

Since Dhanmondi Model Thana is only 150 meters away, Bangla Outlook also asked if they were aware of any "forceful abduction" of the three coordinators by "plain-clothed police."

One of the constables respondend first with an unusual reply in Hindi: "Hum nehi Kayengye", and then gave a wry smile and said "Jani na bhai" (I don't know).

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Update: "Asif, Nahid and Baker--three quota reform protest leaders have been taken into DB custody for security reasons" DB chief Harun Or Rashid told the media on Friday night.

The DB chief disclosed the information hours after a number of media outlets reported that the coordinators were picked up by "plainclothed" police.