Inqilab Moncho staged road blockades and protest programmes in divisional cities across the country on Sunday, demanding the swift arrest and trial of those involved in the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi.
As part of the programme, the organisation’s central leaders and activists took to the street at Shahbagh intersection in the capital.
Under a programme announced on Saturday night by Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, protesters began gathering at Shahbagh around 2:00pm on Sunday. However, a section of demonstrators had already taken to the streets from the morning, chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi.
After dusk, participation increased with supporters from various walks of life, including women and children. Volunteers arranged a separate area for women beside the stage. Although traffic at Shahbagh intersection was disrupted due to the blockade, vehicular movement did not come to a complete halt as lanes on connecting roads remained open.
Earlier on Saturday night, Abdullah Al Jaber had announced a continuous blockade programme from morning to evening in eight divisional cities across the country, demanding justice for Hadi.
Before the announcement of the programme, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan appeared before protesters at Shahbagh and spoke about the progress of the Hadi murder case. They assured that a charge sheet would be submitted within the next 10 days.
Rejecting the assurance, Inqilab Moncho demanded submission of the charge sheet within three working days and completion of the trial within 26 working days.
Earlier on Saturday night, Rizwana Hasan told protesters, “Through diplomatic efforts, the matter has been clearly conveyed to the Indian government. The Indian government has promised that if Hadi’s killer is found in India, they will extend full cooperation to Bangladesh.”
Meanwhile, security agencies in Meghalaya on Sunday rejected claims by Bangladesh Police that the killers of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi had entered the state, terming the allegations “unfounded” and “misleading”.
Since Friday, Inqilab Moncho had been holding a sit-in at Shahbagh demanding justice for Hadi. On Saturday night, however, Abdullah Al Jaber announced that the movement would be expanded beyond the capital and instructed protesters to temporarily leave Shahbagh. They returned on Sunday and resumed their sit-in as part of the scheduled programme.
The protesters reiterated their demand for justice for the killing of the organisation’s spokesperson and leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi was shot by assailants on 12 December in Dhaka and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Singapore on 18 December.
Civil engineer Md Al Amin, who came from Mirpur to join the protest, said, “We want the killers of Hadi to be arrested quickly. We are not satisfied with the adviser’s assurance.”
Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan assured that if the accused remain outside the country, the trial would be conducted in absentia. She said the speedy trial of the murder would be completed during the tenure of the interim government.
