Three days after the brazen shooting of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, who remains in critical condition at a hospital in Dhaka, police are still clueless as to whether the two youths directly involved in the attack have fled the country.
Law enforcement officials have acknowledged their lack of information, amid reports that the two suspects—shooter Faisal Karim Masud and motorbike rider Mohammad Alamgir—have crossed the Sherpur border and reached Meghalaya. Authorities, however, have reported that their passports have been blocked.
The information regarding the suspects fleeing the country to India remains unconfirmed. Efforts to apprehend those involved in the attack are ongoing, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner SM Nazrul Islam during a press conference on Sunday.
Meanwhile, eight individuals have so far been detained in connection with the shooting.
On Saturday, Abdul Hannan, the owner of the motorbike used in the incident, was taken into custody. The court granted a three-day remand for him on Sunday. Additionally, two individuals were arrested from the Sherpur border area, while another two were apprehended in Savar.
On Sunday, RAB handed over three suspected individuals to police, along with a cheque book signed by Faisal, the prime suspect, and electronic devices.
According to police officials, two individuals, identified as Sibyan Diyo and Sanjay Chisim, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in human trafficking at the Nalitabari border area in Sherpur.
On the other hand, multiple officials from the Detective Branch (DB) have confirmed that the two individuals arrested from Savar on Sunday in connection with the incident are Habibur Rahman and Milan.
Sources said Alamgir, who was riding the motorcycle used in the shooting, had contacts with the two arrested individuals. Prior to and after the incident, Alamgir communicated with them multiple times.
On Friday afternoon, Osman Hadi, a prospective independent candidate for the upcoming national elections, was shot by assailants on a motorcycle while travelling by rickshaw in the Purana Paltan area of Dhaka. He was severely injured and initially admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, before being transferred to Evercare Hospital for further treatment.
Hadi’s condition remains critical
In an official statement on Sunday, the medical board treating Hadi at Evercare Hospital reported that his condition remains critical. Swelling in his brain has increased, which is concerning. Due to a brainstem injury and the additional pressure caused by the swelling, the patient has been experiencing fluctuations in blood pressure. On Sunday, his heart rate was slightly elevated compared to normal. Necessary medical support is being provided to stabilise his blood pressure and heart function.
Inqilab Moncho’s Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber said that Osman Hadi is still in a deep coma. “The 72-hour observation period set by the doctors is expected to conclude on Monday night. During this time, his physical progress and subsequent treatment plan will be determined.”
He said, “There hasn’t been any major change in his condition, but there is internal response.” He also mentioned that if the doctors consider his condition stable, the family will prioritise transferring him abroad for further treatment.
DMP Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali told TIMES of Bangladesh that on Sunday evening, Hadi’s relatives signed a copy of the case filed by the police. The case was later registered at Paltan Police Station. He added that the police are actively working to apprehend the perpetrators, and the investigation has made significant progress.
Hannan’s information ‘crucial’
In a hearing on Sunday regarding the attack on Osman Hadi, Hannan, the owner of the motorcycle used in the incident, told the court that he bought the motorcycle from Mirpur Mazar Road and later sold it to a showroom.
During the hearing, the prosecution lawyer, Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Shamsuddoha Suman, said that the motorcycle’s registration number was traced back to Hannan. He added that the motorcycle had been used multiple times to suppress anti-discrimination student movements.
He further said that since Hannan’s arrest, he has provided conflicting information. According to Suman, a network operated under the instructions of former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal during the previous government.
Paltan Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Mustafa Kamal said authorities are questioning Hannan to find out who took the motorcycle from him before the incident, for what purpose, and where they went after returning it. He emphasised that Hannan’s information regarding the shooter and the motorcycle rider is crucial to the investigation.
