As Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi’s treatment at Singapore General Hospital continues, law enforcement agencies across Bangladesh desperately follow the trails of perpetrators responsible for shooting him in the head, only for the trail to run cold.
As of writing this report, investigators have no specific information regarding either the shooter, Faisal, or his associate, Alamgir.
While RAB was able to recover a magazine from the weapon used in the shooting incident on Tuesday from near the house of Faisal’s sister, the actual smoking gun eludes law enforcement officials, much like the perpetrators themselves.
A four-hour flight away, prospective independent candidate for Dhaka-8 Hadi, who was airlifted to Singapore on Tuesday for treatment after being shot in the head on Friday, fights for his life.
Inqilab Moncho organiser and Ducsu Liberation War Affairs Secretary Fatima Tasnim Zuma told TIMES of Bangladesh on Tuesday that the victim’s brother, Omar Hadi, currently by his side in Singapore, had provided updates regarding the Osman’s treatment.
While Osman Hadi’s condition had initially deteriorated, he is currently stable. However, the brother relayed, another operation is necessary, but Osman’s physical condition remains unsuitable for such an arduous undertaking.
Osman Hadi’s friend and political ally Aminul Hasan Faisal, who is also at the Singapore hospital, provided the same information.
Three more being questioned
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) Joint Commissioner Nasirul Islam, the motorcycle used in Hadi’s assassination attempt has changed hands several times. It has not yet been confirmed who had it last.
However, three people have been taken into custody by DB police for questioning in connection with the shooting – two former owners of the motorcycle used during the shooting, Abdur Rahman and Rasel, and the driver of the car used during the escape, Hiron Ghazi.
Rasel’s wife Asha said that police picked up her husband from Banmala in Tongi on Sunday and brought him to the DB office, claiming that her husband sold that motorcycle 10 months ago.
A woman identifying herself as Abdur Rahman’s sister informed that her brother had sold the bike to a garage, which is where Rasel had bought it from.
Inqilab Moncho’s Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jabbar filed an attempted murder case at Paltan Police Station on Sunday night with the family’s consent.
Kabir on remand
The latest individual to be taken in by law enforcement is Kabir, an associate of suspect Faisal Karim Masud. He was placed on 7-day remand after the case’s investigating officer, DB Police’s Motijheel Zonal Team Inspector Faisal Ahmed, applied for his 10-day remand on Tuesday.
SI Rukunuzzaman of the Prosecution Department said a hearing was held at Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibuzzaman’s court regarding the remand application. Kabir was arrested by RAB from Fatullah in Narayanganj on Monday.
Police have also taken in Faisal’s wife Saheda Parveen Samia, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu, and friend Maria Akter Lima, putting them each on 5-day remand.
In addition, it has also been learnt that five people arrested on charges of involvement in human trafficking in the Sherpur border area are also being questioned in connection with the shooting.
