Protests and demonstrations took place across the capital on Monday demanding the arrest of those responsible for the assassination attempt on Inqilab Mancha Convenor Sharif Osman Hadi.
Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) brought out a procession in the morning to encircle the office of the home adviser. Before reaching their destination, the march faced a police barricade at Doel Chattar and another at the High Court intersection. Finally, a 10-member delegation was allowed to meet the home adviser at the Secretariat.
The delegation issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the home adviser, law adviser, and foreign adviser to bring the perpetrators to justice, warning that they would have to resign if they failed to do so.
Aside from demanding the arrest of the attackers and their accomplices, the protesters called for intelligence agencies to be held accountable and for area-wise combing operations to apprehend Awami League-affiliated criminals and seize their weapons within the next 48 hours. They also demanded that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina be brought to the country and executed for alleged crimes against humanity, and that the nation’s ties with India be reassessed as India is “sheltering perpetrators of massacre.”
Before entering the Secretariat, Ducsu Vice-President Shadik Kayem told reporters, “Seventy-two hours have passed and the interim government has not been able to arrest the attackers yet. How much more time do they need?”
Meanwhile, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of the National Citizen Party, blocked the Shahbagh intersection from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, demanding the resignation of the home adviser. The blockade caused massive traffic congestion in Shahbagh and adjoining areas. The group warned that Shahbagh would be blocked again on 17 December if their demand was not met, said the organisation’s president Jahid Ahsan.
Later, they joined Inqilab Mancha activists at the Central Shaheed Minar for another demonstration.
‘Apologise and withdraw remarks over Hadi shooting’
Jatiya Chhatra Shakti General Secretary Abu Baker Majumdar criticised a recent remark by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who had described the attack on Hadi as an “isolated incident.”
The CEC made the comment earlier the day while speaking at an event in Gulshan, Dhaka, saying that one or two isolated incidents occur during election periods and that there had been no deterioration in law and order. “These are not new occurrences. During elections, Ahsanullah Master and former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria were also killed. The attack on Hadi is also an isolated incident.”
Abu Baker Majumdar said, “The people of Bangladesh fought a revolution to stop this culture. The election commissioner must withdraw his remarks and apologise.”
Around 3pm, a “Shaorbodoliyo Protirodh Shomabesh” (all-party demonstration) was held at the Central Shaheed Minar, with social and cultural organisations participating. Protesters chanted slogans condemning the attack on Hadi, and songs and recitations were held calling for peaceful and democratic political practices.
Hadi, who rose to prominence during the July Uprising and the movement to ban the Awami League, had declared his intention to run as an independent candidate for parliament from Dhaka-8. He was attacked on 12 December while visiting the Bijoynagar area for public outreach.
The assailant, seated on the back of a moving motorcycle, shot Hadi while he was travelling in an auto-rickshaw, hitting him on the head. Critically injured, he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for surgery and later admitted to Evercare Hospital. According to the medical board, his condition has not “improved much.”
