Fears Grow Over Planned Killings of July Leaders

Grave concerns have emerged over the safety of several prominent July movement leaders, following a brutal attack on Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and an independent parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-8. On Friday evening, Hadi was critically wounded after being shot in the head by assailants in the capital. He was rushed to Evercare Hospital, where he remains in a perilous condition, fighting for his life under intensive medical supervision.

In the aftermath of the attack, a series of disturbing revelations has surfaced, suggesting that the incident was not an isolated act of violence. According to highly reliable sources, Hadi and several other senior July organisers had long been included on a so-called “target killing” list. Warnings about planned assassination attempts were reportedly conveyed to relevant government quarters well before the shooting, yet allegations are now being made that no effective preventive measures were taken.

Information obtained indicates that the alleged list of potential targets includes Hasnat Abdullah, chief southern organiser of the National Citizen Party (NCP), and Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, Secretary General of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party. Names of several other active July organisers were also reportedly mentioned, with explicit concerns raised about imminent threats to their lives.

Sources claim that detailed intelligence regarding these threats first came to light in September through a UK-based expatriate lawyer. Due to his professional links with security agencies in several countries, he said he had access to sensitive information pointing to a coordinated plan to assassinate key figures of the July movement. He promptly informed government intelligence agencies and senior officials. Separately, Osman Hadi and two other July leaders are said to have personally alerted authorities about the risks they were facing.

Speaking on the matter, Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad stated, “We received credible intelligence about the threat and informed the government accordingly. Unfortunately, no visible action followed. Merely assigning personal security cannot address a crisis of this magnitude. In the current climate, it is nearly impossible to conduct grassroots politics under constant police protection.”

He further warned that without decisive action against armed criminal networks and large-scale recovery of illegal weapons ahead of elections, a free and fair poll would remain unattainable. “Token operations will only worsen the situation,” he added.

The UK-based lawyer reportedly visited Dhaka in September, holding several meetings with Hadi, Hasnat Abdullah and Barrister Fuad to discuss possible courses of action. Although the government proposed providing bodyguards, the leaders declined, fearing it would distance them from grassroots supporters and disrupt field-level political activities.

Meanwhile, police sources suggest that foreign-based criminals may be linked to the attack on Hadi. The name of a suspected contract killer, Philip alias Garo Philip, has emerged, and efforts are under way to apprehend him. Investigators believe that his arrest could reveal the masterminds behind the alleged killing plot.

Attempts to obtain official reactions from the Home Affairs Adviser, the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Inspector General of Police yielded no formal response. However, the IGP reportedly stated via text message that no such prior intelligence had been received by the police.