Tarique pays respects at Osman Hadi's grave

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman visited Dhaka University this morning (27 December) and offered prayers at the grave of Sharif Osman Hadi, the slain spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, on the third day of his return to the country.

Afterwards, before getting into his vehicle, he acknowledged the greetings of party leaders and activists present by waving with both hands. Tarique's motorcade departed the grave at around 11:40am. 

As the motorcade moved forward slowly through the dense crowd, members of law enforcement were seen using batons to control the situation. At 11:52am, Tarique's motorcade left the DU area via Shahbagh.

Earlier, he entered the DU campus area at around 11:15am. At the time, leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal lined both sides of the road in front of the DU Faculty of Fine Arts, chanting slogans to welcome Tarique.

Traffic for both pedestrians and vehicles was halted on both sides of the road from Shahbagh towards DU.

Inqilab Mancha resumes Shahbagh sit-in after Tarique's visit to Hadi's grave

In addition, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police were deployed along the road adjacent to the DU Central Mosque.

Earlier in the day, Tarique left his Gulshan residence to visit the grave of Sharif Osman Hadi, the slain leader of Inqilab Mancha, as part of his third-day schedule following his return home from exile on 25 December.

The BNP leader was also originally scheduled to visit the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor), popularly known as the Pongu Hospital, later today to enquire about those injured during the July Uprising.

However, the programme was cancelled as there are reportedly no patients from the July Uprising currently admitted at the facility, according a BNP Media Cell post on Facebook.

Tarique's itinerary for the day remains packed with political and personal engagements. After paying his respects at the grave of Osman Hadi, who was fatally shot earlier this month, Tarique is set to head to the Election Commission (EC), where he will formally submit his voter registration application.

Tarique returned to Bangladesh last week, ending a long period of exile that began in 2008.

Members of the BGB and police keep guard at the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, near the Dhaka University Central Mosque, where Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi has also been laid to rest. Photo: TBS

Since his arrival, he has been staying at his Gulshan residence, which he left nearly two decades ago.

His return has been marked by a series of programmes, including a meeting with his ailing mother, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, at Evercare Hospital and a reception rally on Purbachal's 300 Feet Road.