RUCSU General Secretary Threatened, Security Alert Issued

On the same day that Sharif Osman Hadi, independent parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-8 and convener of the Inquilab Mancha, was shot, the General Secretary (GS) of Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), Salahuddin Ammar, reportedly received a death threat from Asadullah-Hil-Galib, General Secretary of the Chhatra League’s Rabi branch. On Friday, 12 December, Galib posted the threat on his verified Facebook account, with the Rabi branch Chhatra League president, Mostafizur Rahman Babu, also expressing support for the message in the same post.

In his post, Asadullah-Hil-Galib wrote, "Please, do not interfere with my campus, I request this. That area is only for me and my brother Mostafizur Rahman Babu." Addressing Salahuddin Ammar directly, he added, "Little brother, increase your protection. Do not roam alone on your 80cc bike. And since your father, Sadiq Qayem, travels by helicopter, you should at least take a plane to Dhaka. Otherwise, something could happen before or after the Jamuna. I want you to stay alive; there are many accounts to settle."

By Saturday morning (13 December) at 11:00, six people had commented on Galib’s post, including Mostafizur Rahman Babu, who wrote, "Pray to Allah to keep him safe." Another commenter, Noman Islam, wrote, "Brother, give me a share in your campus – that’s all I need."

Responding to the threat, RUCSU GS Salahuddin Ammar stated, "I have not seen the post, but someone informed me about it. Various pages related to the Awami League-Chhatra League occasionally indicate that I am the next target. These do not concern me greatly. My life is in Allah’s hands, so I will not stay indoors or increase my protocol unnecessarily."

He added, "I am not at all intimidated by such threats. I wish to continue my work. Some mental pressure is always part of the job. I have chosen my own destiny. Giving importance to such threats is a waste of time. Galib, even when Chhatra League was in power, never had any special influence. Paying attention to one person’s post gives them undue importance."

It should be noted that Sharif Osman Hadi was shot on Friday after Jumma prayers at Kalbert Road, Bijoynagar, in the capital. He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and is now receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Investigative media outlet The Descent claims that the person who fired at Osman Hadi from behind a bike resembles Faisal Karim Masud, alias Daud Khan, a former leader of the Adabar Thana Chhatra League. The media outlet says that analysis of CCTV footage from 9 December at the Inquilab Cultural Centre, police footage of the 12 December attack, various media reports, and more than 50 posts from Faisal Karim Masud’s Facebook-Instagram accounts and other pro-Awami League pages and individuals confirms this identification.