Political vengeance behind Hadi killing: DB chief

The killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman bin Hadi was driven by political vengeance, said Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam, chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), on Tuesday, January 6.

Former Dhaka North City Corporation ward councillor and Jubo League leader Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi had ordered Hadi’s killing, he told a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre.

“Hadi had initiated a different political discourse and made strong critical statements about past activities of the Awami League and its banned student wing, Chhatra League, which angered AL and BCL leaders and activists,” Shafiqul said.

Fugitive Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Rahul or Daud Khan, who was involved in Chhatra League politics, shot and injured Hadi, the DB chief added.

He said Faisal and his associate Alamgir Hossain were later aided in their escape by Bappi.

Shafiqul Islam also said that a chargesheet naming 17 people has been submitted at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Of the accused, 12 are currently behind bars, while five, including prime accused shooter Faisal and motorcycle rider Alamgir, remain at large. Efforts to arrest the fugitives are ongoing.

Osman Hadi, a prominent figure of the July Mass Uprising last year, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling on a rickshaw on Box Culvert Road in the capital's Bijaynagar area.

Later, he was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18.

On December 20, he was laid to rest beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.

Inqilab Mancha demanded that all involved, including the perpetrator, planner, aides, those who helped in the escape and those who provided shelter—be brought to justice within 24 days.

They also called for the cancellation of work permits of all Indian nationals residing in Bangladesh, and if India refuses to repatriate accused murderers taking refuge there, a case should be filed at the International Court of Justice.

The group further demanded that alleged ‘fascist accomplices’ within the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.

On Tuesday, Inqilab Moncho began its ‘March for Justice’ from Shahbagh, pressing for accountability in Hadi’s killing and the fulfilment of its four-point demand.

Source: UNB