Coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on Thursday condemned privacy violation as individuals at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital checked mobile phones to detect activists of Awami League and its associate bodies.
They clarified that they do not support any form of privacy violations.
Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah said checking mobile phones was so reprehensible.
He said the heinous acts did not reflect their life sacrificing struggles for freedom and privacy.
He warned not to repeat these heinous acts.
"I have received information that journalists were refrained from taking photos and videos and performing their duties. I believe that freedom of press and expression must be ensured. We condemn and protest those who obstructed journalists to perform their professional duties," Hasnat said in a video message.
He said, "We saw that the mass media could not work properly and freely during the fascist government regime. We don't want restoration of the acts."
Coordinator Rifat Rashid also issued a statement clarifying their stance against such actions.
"Allegations surfaced about checking people's phones at multiple locations during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement's mass sit-in programme on Thursday. We do not support any action that violates people's privacy," reads the statement.
Such behaviours serve to reinforce outdated discriminatory practices, it added.
"We demand an immediate end to these activities which disrupt the peace and privacy of citizens.
Protecting individual freedom is essential to building a Bangladesh free from discrimination," said the statement.
They also called upon people to unite peacefully against those conspiring to undermine the society.
Earlier on August 15, people who tried to gather in front of the Dhanmondi-32 house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were obstructed from reaching the location.
Many people were seen standing with sticks in the area.
Upon entering the area, individuals were being interrogated, asked to show their identity cards and their mobile phones were also being checked.
