Dhaka, Jan 2 (.) Bangladesh’s socio-cultural organisation, the Inqilab Moncho, resumed its capital blockade, holding a demonstration at Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, once again demanding that the state immediately apprehend and sentence those, responsible for the killing of its spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.
Ahead of Juma prayers today, the platform urged mosques to include special prayers seeking justice for Hadi’s murder. Post the prayers, protesters brought about a massive procession from the Dhaka University Central Mosque before occupying the Shahbagh intersection, again brining traffic to a standstill in the area.
The group launched its blockade last week, temporarily halting demonstrations following late former PM Khaleda Zia’s death, and her state funeral.
The Islamist group, known for being one of Bangladesh’s biggest anti-India voices had presented the interim govt a four-point demand seeking justice for Hadi’ death, and had presented it a 24-hr ultimatum for acting on it, before resuming protests again.
The demands included bringing all aides and perpetrators of Hadi’s assassination to justice within 24 days, cancelling work permits for of all Indians working in the country, filing a case against New Delhi in the International Court of Justice should Indian authorities refuse to repatriate killers of Hadi who they claim are hiding in India, and bring the so-called fascist elements within the country’s Civil Military Intelligence to justice.
Hadi, was running as a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, when he was shot in the head on Dec 12 by two unidentified men, travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan.
Later, he was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of Dec 18. On Dec 20, he was given a state funeral, and laid to rest beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.
. . PRP