Shahbagh blocked as Inqilab Moncho demands justice for Hadi

Published : Sunday, 28 December, 2025 at 4:46 PM Count : 4

Leaders and activists of Inqilab Moncho blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka this afternoon as part of their all-out blockade programme in divisional cities, demanding justice for slain leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

The blockade at Shahbagh began at 2:00pm. However, by around 11:00am, a number of protesters had already taken positions on adjacent roads, chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi, the spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho said.

The protesters had occupied the Shahbagh intersection from Friday and continued their sit-in overnight amid a cold wave.

They left the area late last night after Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of the platform, announced an expanded blockade programme in divisional cities to widen the movement beyond the capital.

To participate in today's programme, demonstrators returned ahead of the scheduled time and resumed their positions at the intersection.

During yesterday's programme, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali visited the site around 11:00pm and briefed protesters on the progress of the investigation.

Pledging swift submission of the charge sheet and a speedy trial, the adviser said the interim government was working to identify both the killers of Osman Hadi and those involved behind the scenes, and to bring them to justice.

However, protesters said they would continue the movement until justice is ensured.

"Statements from the administration are nothing but eyewash. They are trying to buy time. The day the shooting took place, the perpetrators could have been arrested," said Naim Islam, a central member of Inqilab Monch.

"The government must disclose who is pressuring whom. They claim arrests have been made, but the actual killers must be caught."

Briefing protesters last night, the DMP commissioner said police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and intelligence agencies were jointly working to uncover those behind the killing.

He said 10 people had so far been arrested, while two pistols and a motorcycle used in the murder were recovered. Police have also seized signed cheques worth Tk 218 crore.

"There has been substantial progress. The charge sheet will be submitted within the next 10 days, by January 7," he said.

Hadi was shot a day after the Election Commission announced on December 12 that the next national election would be held on February 12. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on the night of December 18.

Meanwhile in Sylhet city, Inqilab Moncho began a protest by blocking the Chowhatta intersection around 3:00pm.

FP/MI