Shahbagh Paralysed as Inqilab Mancha Demands Arrests

In a resolute display of defiance, the Inqilab Mancha has declared an indefinite blockade at the capital’s key intersection, Shahbagh, demanding the immediate arrest of the assassins of its founding convener, Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. Following a large-scale mobilization after Friday prayers, the activists have transformed the busy thoroughfare into a protest campsite, vowing to remain until the government takes decisive action.

Abdullah Al Jaber, the General Secretary of Inqilab Mancha, addressed the press late Friday night, confirming that the protesters would spend the night on the streets. “We are staying here until morning and beyond,” he stated. In a poignant gesture, he mentioned that blankets originally purchased by the late Osman Hadi for the destitute are being brought to the site to keep the protesters warm. “Hadi Bhai bought these for the poor, but he couldn’t deliver them. Once our mission here is successful, we will ensure they reach their intended recipients,” Jaber added.

The leadership of the movement has laid out stringent conditions for lifting the siege. They have demanded that government advisers personally meet the protesters and provide concrete assurances. Specifically, they seek the arrest of the actual gunmen, the masterminds behind the plot, and those facilitators who allegedly assisted the suspects in fleeing across the border to India.

Despite the gridlock caused by the blockade, the organizers have shown a degree of pragmatism regarding public welfare. Recognizing that an admission test for Dhaka University is scheduled for Saturday, the Mancha has clarified that students will be allowed passage. “From 9:00 am, we will maintain our positions but facilitate the movement of examinees. However, let it be clear: the blockade is not being lifted,” Jaber emphasized.

Key Milestones and Demands of the Movement

The emotional weight of the protest was further amplified by Sharif Omar Bin Hadi, the brother of the slain leader. Speaking in the evening, he warned the authorities of a “harsher programme” if their demands remain unaddressed. He explicitly threatened to surround ‘Jamuna’, the residence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, or even the Cantonment if justice continues to be delayed. “We have taken to the streets and will not return home without justice. Do not force us to destabilize the state further,” he warned.

Sharif Osman Bin Hadi was a pivotal figure in the post-July uprising landscape. Having formed the Inqilab Mancha in August last year, he was a vocal critic of fascism and regional hegemony. A potential candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming parliamentary elections, his influence was rapidly growing before his untimely demise. On 12 December, while travelling by rickshaw on Culvert Road in Purana Paltan, he was shot in the head by assailants on a motorcycle. After a week of fighting for his life in a Singaporean hospital, he passed away on 18 December.

While law enforcement agencies, including the Police and RAB, have arrested several suspects—including the family members of the prime suspect, Faisal Karim Masud—the actual gunman remains at large. Intelligence sources suggest he has managed to cross into India, a claim that has sparked further outrage among the Mancha’s supporters. As the clock struck 1:30 am on Saturday, the chants of “Justice for Hadi” continued to echo through Shahbagh, signaling that the Inqilab Mancha is prepared for a long and arduous struggle.