In a dramatic escalation of public protest, the Inquilab Mancha has launched a total shutdown in Shahbagh, Dhaka, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Shahid Sharif Osman bin Hadi. The blockade commenced shortly after 2:00 pm today, effectively halting all traffic through the area and drawing attention from across the city.
The nationwide call for the shutdown had been issued by Inquilab Mancha on Saturday night, extending to all divisional cities. Although the official programme scheduled the blockade to begin at 2:00 pm, demonstrators began assembling at Shahbagh Mor as early as 11:00 am. Occupying the central sections of the road, protesters raised a series of slogans while sitting in protest, signalling their determination and solidarity.
By mid-afternoon, the entire Shahbagh junction was blocked by the organisation, with leaders and activists chanting slogans intermittently, including:
- “Narae Takbeer, Allahu Akbar”
- “No Compromise, Struggle Struggle”
- “We Want Justice”
- “Not Delhi, Dhaka; Dhaka, Dhaka”
- “Slavery No, Freedom Yes”
- “The Hadi of the People Never Dies”
- “Hadi, Not Modi; Hadi, Hadi”
The ongoing protests follow a continuous sit-in at Shahbagh that began last Friday, in which activists from various walks of life participated to press for justice. On Saturday night, Abdullah Al Zaber, Secretary of Inquilab Mancha, announced the nationwide shutdown to amplify the movement across divisional towns.
Prior to the shutdown, at approximately 11:00 pm, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor on Environment, Forests and Climate Change, along with Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, visited Shahbagh to brief the protesters on the investigation’s progress. They pledged that the charge sheet for the Hadi murder case would be submitted by 7 January and that the trial would proceed swiftly. Nevertheless, Inquilab Mancha rejected this assurance and reaffirmed its demand through the new blockade.
In a press conference at the DMP Media Centre today, Additional Commissioner S.N. Nazrul Islam stated that the principal accused, Faisal Karim Masud, and his associate, Alamgir Sheikh, have fled to India, aided by two Indian nationals, who were subsequently arrested by the Meghalaya Police. The DMP confirmed that the charge sheet would be filed within the next seven to ten days.
Osman Hadi had established Inquilab Mancha in August last year to oppose both the deposed Awami League government and perceived Indian influence in Bangladesh. He had been preparing to contest the upcoming national election from Dhaka-8 when he was shot on 12 December at Box Culvert Road, Old Paltan, Dhaka. Despite receiving advanced medical treatment in Singapore, Hadi succumbed to his injuries on 18 December.
