Hadi’s death: Ex-MP Nowfel's house 'set on fire', protesters besiege India’s Asst High Commission residence in Ctg
At around 11:30pm, the protesters split into three groups and marched in different directions. One group went to Chashma Hill, where they reportedly set fire to and vandalised the residence of former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel.
Protests over the death of Inqilab Mancha Spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi intensified in Chattogram early today (19 December), as a group of enraged demonstrators attacked the residence of India's assistant high commissioner, throwing brickbats and staging a sit-in outside the premises, police said.
The unrest erupted late Thursday night, with protesters blocking roads, vandalising property, and later prompting law enforcement to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, while members of the Bangladesh Army were deployed as tensions escalated.
Around 11pm, several hundred protesters gathered at the city's No 2 Gate intersection and began demonstrating. Barricades were set up, halting vehicular movement in the area.
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Protesters chanted slogans including "Boycott, boycott, India boycott," "Burn down Awami League dens," "One Hadi is gone, thousands of Hadis will rise," "Why did Hadi die? Administration must answer," and "Hadi's blood will not go in vain."
While traffic remained suspended during the protest, space was reportedly made for ambulances to pass.
At around 11:30pm, the protesters split into three groups and marched in different directions. One group went to Chashma Hill, where they allegedly set fire to and vandalised the residence of former education minister and Awami League leader Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel.
Police later arrived at the scene and managed to calm the situation.
Another group marched via the GEC intersection towards Khulshi and staged a sit-in in front of the Assistant High Commission of India. Although police had erected barricades on Zakir Hossain Road, protesters broke through and advanced.
They gathered in front the residence and threw brickbats, according to police sources.
Later, law enforcement fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Members of the Bangladesh Army were also deployed to the scene as tensions escalated.
Talking to reporters afterwards, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasib Aziz said that a large crowd had gathered in front of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner's residence and office near MES College today.
Around a thousand people were present initially, and CMP DC North spoke to them before dispersing the crowd, he said.
A third group continued chanting slogans at the No 2 Gate intersection, where traffic remained completely suspended for some time.
Mohammad Jasim Uddin, a member of the high council of Gono Odhikar Parishad, who joined the protest, said Hadi had been a frontline fighter in the July movement and a fearless voice against domination and injustice. He called for exemplary punishment of those responsible for the killing.
However, denying information about arson at Nowfel's residence, Aminur Rashid, assistant commissioner (media) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, told The Business Standard, "Security has been strengthened.
"Additional measures have also been taken at the Assistant High Commission of India. I have no further information at this moment."
Hadi had been undergoing treatment in Singapore and died last night.
