Saturday, 12 July, 2025
A six-story house owned by former Awami League MP Joaherul Islam, also known as VP Joaher, has allegedly been seized by an individual posing as a student representative and converted into an asylum for people with "mental disorders" in Tangail.
The building, located on Choto Kalibari Road, was taken over on Saturday morning by Mariam Mukaddas Mishti, a young woman who identified herself as a student representative. She reportedly broke into the house and led the occupation.
According to Tanvir Ahmed, chief of Tangail Sadar Police Station, he learned of the incident from local residents. He noted that since the students behind the mass civil movement have formed a new political party, the role of "student representatives" no longer exists.
Mishti explained to reporters that the occupation had been announced on Facebook. "The house will be turned into an asylum for mentally disabled individuals, just like the houses of all Awami League leaders," she said. "We entered the building by breaking the lock and have already housed around 20 people from the Al-Muqaddas Foundation."
She further argued that it could not be considered encroachment, as the house was not being used for personal gain. "This asylum is for the neglected mentally ill in society," she added.
Mishti claimed that the idea had received support from other coordinators. However, she could not identify a person who allegedly proposed that the asylum be established without demolishing the building.
Despite the claimed purpose of the asylum, many locals have expressed concerns over its development in a residential area. However, they have refrained from speaking publicly due to the involvement of students.
In response to potential disturbances caused by the asylum, Mishti assured, "If the patients cause issues, those with severe illnesses will be relocated to another Awami League leader’s house. Those with milder symptoms will stay here."
Al Amin, the Tangail coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, denounced the move, saying, “We do not support this. Mishti was part of the movement, but her actions do not align with the anti-fascist spirit." He also emphasized that no one is authorized to act as a coordinator at this time and warned that any such actions would be met with consequences.
Joaherul Islam, who has been in hiding with his family since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, has yet to comment on the situation.
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A six-story house owned by former Awami League MP Joaherul Islam, also known as VP Joaher, has allegedly been seized by an individual posing as a student representative and converted into an asylum for people with "mental disorders" in Tangail.
The building, located on Choto Kalibari Road, was taken over on Saturday morning by Mariam Mukaddas Mishti, a young woman who identified herself as a student representative. She reportedly broke into the house and led the occupation.
According to Tanvir Ahmed, chief of Tangail Sadar Police Station, he learned of the incident from local residents. He noted that since the students behind the mass civil movement have formed a new political party, the role of "student representatives" no longer exists.
Mishti explained to reporters that the occupation had been announced on Facebook. "The house will be turned into an asylum for mentally disabled individuals, just like the houses of all Awami League leaders," she said. "We entered the building by breaking the lock and have already housed around 20 people from the Al-Muqaddas Foundation."
She further argued that it could not be considered encroachment, as the house was not being used for personal gain. "This asylum is for the neglected mentally ill in society," she added.
Mishti claimed that the idea had received support from other coordinators. However, she could not identify a person who allegedly proposed that the asylum be established without demolishing the building.
Despite the claimed purpose of the asylum, many locals have expressed concerns over its development in a residential area. However, they have refrained from speaking publicly due to the involvement of students.
In response to potential disturbances caused by the asylum, Mishti assured, "If the patients cause issues, those with severe illnesses will be relocated to another Awami League leader’s house. Those with milder symptoms will stay here."
Al Amin, the Tangail coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, denounced the move, saying, “We do not support this. Mishti was part of the movement, but her actions do not align with the anti-fascist spirit." He also emphasized that no one is authorized to act as a coordinator at this time and warned that any such actions would be met with consequences.
Joaherul Islam, who has been in hiding with his family since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, has yet to comment on the situation.
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