Inqilab Mancha leaves Shahbagh, will announce fresh programme today
Earlier, at around 3:45pm, a clash broke out between police and activists when supporters of the platform set out towards the chief adviser's residence, the State Guest House Jamuna, demanding justice for the killing of their spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.
Leaders and activists of Inqilab Mancha left the capital's Shahbagh intersection Friday night, announcing that a fresh course of action would be declared through a press conference today (7 February).
The protesters vacated Shahbagh around 10:30pm yesterday (6 February), following instructions from the platform's leadership. Earlier, one of the coordinators at the site read out a directive from Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, asking activists to return home.
"On behalf of Inqilab Mancha, a new programme will be announced through a press conference by Saturday. We will take to the streets again in line with that announcement," he said.
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He also warned that anyone remaining at Shahbagh after the directive would not represent Inqilab Mancha activists.
Earlier in the evening, police dispersed Inqilab Mancha leaders and activists from Shahbagh after clashes broke out when protesters attempted to march towards the residence of the chief adviser at State Guest House Jamuna.
According to police, the protesters blocked the Shahbagh intersection and tried to advance towards Jamuna around 7:45pm, prompting law enforcement to intervene.
"The protesters had blocked Shahbagh. When they tried to move towards Jamuna again, police dispersed them," Shahbagh police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Moniruzzaman said.
The demonstrators had taken position at Shahbagh at around 5:15pm after marching from the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus, causing severe traffic congestion in the area.
Earlier, at about 3:45pm, clashes erupted between police and Inqilab Mancha activists when they first attempted to move towards the chief adviser's residence.
At least 40 people were reportedly injured in the clashes, including the platform's Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber. The injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.
In a Facebook post earlier in that day, Inqilab Mancha had called on its leaders and activists to stage a sit-in near InterContinental Dhaka after Jummah prayers.
The protests stem from demands for a United Nations-backed investigation into the killing of the platform's spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.
Hadi, who was an aspiring independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the capital's Paltan area on 12 December last year. He succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Singapore on 18 December.
