Former adviser Nahid Islam has alleged that the murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, the arson attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices, and other violent incidents were planned by forces within the government.
Nahid, also convener of National Citizen Party (NCP), made the remarks on Monday during a joint protest meeting organised by the Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at a hotel in the capital. The event, titled ‘Bangladesh under mob violence’, addressed concerns over escalating attacks on media and political activists.
“Osman Hadi’s murder was deliberately used as a pretext for attacks, arson, and vandalism. Even slogans from the July uprising were exploited to justify the violence. These incidents were carefully planned to manipulate the country’s political and electoral environment,” Nahid said.
He called on the public to stay vigilant against mobocracy and demanded accountability for those involved. “The government must ensure that all perpetrators of these attacks are identified and brought to justice,” he added.
Nahid stressed that the murderers of Osman Hadi should be immediately brought under the law, and those responsible for violence under the pretext of July 24 must face proper legal action.
“The public will not tolerate crimes committed under the guise of the July uprising,” he said.
Highlighting the deteriorating situation, he noted that the country did not experience the expected peaceful environment after July. “Instead, killings, attacks, vandalism, and arson have increased. After 16 years of authoritarian rule, this is not the situation we wanted,” Nahid added.
