‘Catch killers’: Students raise heat over Hadi murder

Staff Reporter :

The Anti-discrimination student movement on Wednesday alleged that “various quarters inside and outside the government” were involved in the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi and warned that an active conspiracy was underway to prevent justice, citing what it called prolonged delays over arrests, the charge sheet and the investigation process.

At a press conference at Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus, the platform’s president, Rifat Rashid, said the authorities’ failure to apprehend suspects had deepened public suspicion.

“ The country’s intelligence agencies not being able to arrest even one accused raises serious questions,” Rifat told reporters. “Rather, it appears there have been instructions not to arrest the perpetrators.”

He demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called for the identities of the “masterminds” behind the killing to be publicly disclosed and prosecuted.

“This is a point on which the students and people of Bangladesh will not compromise,” he said. “Those who are going to the election field without ensuring justice for this murder will be rejected by the people.”
Revised three-point demand Rifat Rashid said the organisation had revised its earlier demands and placed a fresh three-point charter before the public.

First, the group demanded the unconditional release of Mahadi and Surabhi and the formation of an investigation committee to take punitive action against police and administrative officials, including an officer named Omar Faruk, accused of harassment.

Second, it called for an indemnity ordinance to be issued immediately by the president, granting immunity for all actions carried out between July 1 and August 8 by students, workers and citizens who took part in what the group describes as the July mass uprising.

Third, the platform demanded that the role of military, paramilitary and civil officials who it said made “significant contributions” during the July movement be formally documented, honoured and legally protected. It also called for a permanent commission to prevent workplace harassment of those officials and urged the authorities to promote and appoint to sensitive posts officers who, it alleged, had been denied promotions since February 25, 2009.

Rifat said the organisation was once again declaring itself the “vanguard of the July revolutionaries,” adding that the central demand of the moment was singular: “Justice for the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi.”

Announced programmes
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement also announced a series of programmes aimed at intensifying pressure on the authorities.

It said it was compiling a list of officers-in-charge of police stations in areas where students and members of the public were killed during the July uprising, along with senior police officials up to the rank of superintendent and above. After finalising the list, the organisation plans to file cases at the International Crimes Tribunal, naming those officials.

The group further said it would hold meetings with the law adviser and the home affairs adviser to push for the issuance of the proposed indemnity ordinance. It also plans to meet leaders of the two largest electoral alliances to ensure that what it called the “spirit of the July revolution” and guarantees of safety for July activists are reflected in their election manifestos.

The killing of Sharif Osman Hadi has become a rallying point for the student platform, which has repeatedly accused the authorities of inaction. On Wednesday, its leaders made clear that they intend to turn the issue into both a legal and political campaign in the days ahead.