Inqilab Moncho warns massive movement over delay in Hadi murder trial
Staff Reporter :
The political platform Inqilab Moncho on Friday warned that it would launch a movement aimed at toppling the interim government if justice is not delivered in the killing of its spokesperson, Sharif Osman bin Hadi, within the next 30 working days.
The warning was issued by Inqilab Moncho’s member secretary, Abdullah Al Jaber, during a sit-in program at Shahbagh in the capital around 2:30 p.m.
The demonstration followed a protest march that began after Jumma prayers at the central mosque of Dhaka University and ended at Shahbagh after passing through the university’s central library and the Raju Sculpture.
After Jaber’s speech, Inqilab Moncho leaders and activists continued their sit-in at Shahbagh, disrupting traffic on one side of the busy intersection. Protesters were seen chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi and accusing the authorities of deliberately delaying the investigation.
Inqilab Moncho has been staging continuous programs at Shahbagh since December 26, demanding justice for the killing. On December 29, the platform also announced an online campaign titled “Saluting Our Cultural Hero.” Friday’s demonstration marked a continuation of those protests.
Addressing the gathering, Abdullah Al Jaber alleged that Sharif Osman Hadi was targeted because of his political activism. He claimed that Hadi had initiated a movement for justice and the protection of Bangladesh’s sovereignty, which, he said, threatened powerful interests.
“Many believed that if Hadi was not eliminated now, they would not be able to remain in power in the future,” Jaber said. “Bodies would no longer be dumped at the border. Subservience to Delhi would no longer continue. All of this is connected, and that is why Hadi was killed.”
Jaber also accused the government of lacking sincerity in arresting those responsible for the killing. He said that 21 days had passed since Hadi was shot, yet the main perpetrators had not been apprehended.
“The government claims to have arrested 11 people, but not a single one of them is directly involved in the murder,” he said. “Instead, they have arrested parents, siblings, and relatives. This does not reflect any genuine intent to bring the killers to justice.”
He further alleged that conflicting statements by law enforcement had misled the public. Referring to a recent press conference by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, Jaber said police claimed that two suspects had been arrested by Meghalaya police in India, a claim that Indian authorities later denied.
“This shows that the murder of Osman Hadi is being deliberately distorted to confuse the people,” he said.
Reiterating the platform’s ultimatum, Jaber said the government had earlier asked for time until January 7, while Inqilab Moncho had granted a deadline of 30 working days. According to him, 22 working days remain.
“If the government fails to complete the judicial process within the stipulated 30 working days, we will initiate a movement to bring down this government,” he said.
He also demanded that by January 7, not only the gunmen but all those who planned, facilitated, and ordered the killing be identified and named in the charge sheet.
Jaber said Inqilab Moncho would begin outreach efforts from Saturday, approaching political parties and cultural organizations they consider “pro-Bangladesh” to seek support for their demands.
“We will not go to those who serve Indian interests,” he said. “If Bangladesh-minded forces stand with us, we welcome it. If not, we will remain on the streets.”
Earlier, Inqilab Moncho reiterated a four-point demand it had announced on December 28. The demands include bringing all those involved in the killing — including planners, accomplices, and those who aided the suspects’ escape — to justice within the stipulated timeframe; cancelling work permits of Indian nationals residing in Bangladesh; filing a case against India at the International Court of Justice if accused suspects are not repatriated; and identifying and prosecuting what the group described as “fascist elements” within civil and military intelligence agencies.
Sharif Osman bin Hadi, also known as Osman Hadi, was a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency.
He was shot in the head on December 12 while traveling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in the Purana Paltan area of the capital.
He was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment, where he died from his injuries on the night of December 18. On December 20, he was buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.