Protests erupt nationwide over shooting of Osman Hadi demanding immediate arrest of assailants
Hadi was shot in the head by motorcycle-borne assailants in front of DR Tower on Box Culvert Road in the capital’s Paltan area this afternoon.
Widespread protests broke out across the country today (12 December) following the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha and an aspiring candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency.
Hadi was shot in the head by motorcycle-borne assailants in front of DR Tower on Box Culvert Road in the capital's Paltan area this afternoon.
In Dhaka, leaders and activists of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and its associate bodies, including the party's Sylhet district committee, student wing Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, Jatiya Jubo Shakti and Jatiyo Sramik Shakti, held a protest march at the Central Shaheed Minar, condemning the attack and demanding the immediate arrest of the assailants.
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They also held a march at the Dhaka University area in the evening.
At Baitul Mukarram's north gate, leaders and activists of Dhaka South Jamaat-e-Islami staged a separate rally denouncing the shooting and calling for justice.
In Narayanganj, three separate demonstrations were organised in the evening.
Student Federation of Bangladesh leaders and activists brought out a torch procession on BB Road in the district, while NCP members marched from Chashara Shaheed Minar through the city. Islami Chhatra Shibir also led a protest procession from Mission Para to Chashara.
Addressing a street rally in Narayanganj, NCP Joint Member Secretary Abdullah Al Amin said the attack on Hadi, one of the prominent faces of the July Uprising, raises serious concerns about public safety ahead of the national election.
He demanded swift arrests and accountability from the authorities.
Student Federation president Mashiur Rahman Khan Richard claimed "anti-democratic forces" were behind the attack and warned of mass agitation if those responsible were not brought to justice.
At Jahangirnagar University, students marched from Bot Tola to the vice-chancellor's residence, demanding arrest of Hadi's attackers as well as punishment for teachers accused of aiding attacks on protesters during the July movement.
Later, the students locked the registrar's building, warning they would continue agitation until action is taken.
In Cumilla, Inqilab Mancha's city unit held a rally at Pubali Chattar in the afternoon, joined by leaders from NCP, Shibir, and other local organisations. Speakers condemned the attack and announced further protest programmes.
In Khagrachhari, members of NCP and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti joined a district-wide protest staged by students and people of Khagrachhari, expressing solidarity with Hadi and demanding immediate justice.
In Munshiganj, leaders and activists from various political, social, and student organisations held a torch procession protesting the shooting.
The procession began around 7pm from the district's Central Shaheed Minar and marched through several key roads in the town.
Around 3:50pm, Hadi underwent a brain surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Doctors said the bullet entered below his ear and went through his head.
Later in the evening, he was transferred from DMCH to Evercare Hospital for advanced treatment.
