Osman Hadi’s Party Gives 24-Day Ultimatum To Bangladesh Govt Over Murder Trial | World News
According to the organization’s announcement on Facebook, Inqilab Moncho gave a 24-day ultimatum to the interim government led by Mohammed Yunus to complete the murder case of party leader Sharif Osman Hadi and bring those responsible to justice. Hadi was shot a day after the Bangladesh Election Commission announced the date of the next general election. He was flown to Singapore for treatment but died from his injuries on the night of December 18.
Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Moncho, announced that the trial of the entire death squad, including the planner, the hitman, his accomplices, those who helped them escape and everyone who provided shelter, should be concluded within 24 days. “The trial of the entire death squad… should be completed within the next 24 days,” The Daily Star quoted him as saying.
The ultimatum was also shared in a post on the organization’s official Facebook page directed at the interim government led by Yunus.
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Protests Continue Across the Country
The announcement came amid ongoing protests and blockades by Inqilab Moncho in various cities demanding justice for Hadi. On Sunday, supporters staged a blockade of Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection as part of a broader shutdown of major urban centres.
During a protest on Saturday night, the country’s environment advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali visited the area and spoke to demonstrators about the status of the investigation, The Daily Star reported.
The Suspects’ Whereabouts Are Disputed
Tensions escalated after Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed that the two main suspects entered Meghalaya through the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh and fled to India. However, this claim was denied by the Meghalaya Police and Border Security Force (BSF).
“There is no evidence that these persons crossed the international border into Meghalaya from Haluaghat district. No such incident has been detected or reported by BSF. These allegations are baseless and misleading,” said OP Upadhayay, Inspector General of BSF (Meghalaya Border).
NCP Forms Alliance Ahead of Elections
Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) announced its decision to join a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance ahead of the general elections, sparking internal opposition. Party convener Nahid Islam explained that the partnership was purely electoral, not ideological.
Islam announced that the NCP initially planned to contest all 300 parliamentary constituencies as independents. “In the current political environment, it is not possible for the CHP to enter the elections alone. For this reason, we decided to form an alliance with 8 parties that share the same views. This is not an ideological alliance, but an electoral understanding,” he said.
NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb added that the alliance was based on common political goals rather than ideological overlap. “We agree politically that the reform proposals should be implemented within the democratic alliance. This will allow us to strengthen the role of eight to ten parties in the implementation of the political agreement of the July uprising,” he said.
Crack within the Party Reveals
Despite these statements, the alliance triggered turmoil within the NCP. Around 30 senior leaders issued a memorandum opposing cooperation with Jamaat-e-Islami; This memorandum referenced Jamaat-e-Islami’s controversial political history, including opposition to Bangladesh’s independence and alleged involvement in atrocities during the 1971 War of Independence. Two senior leaders resigned in protest.
Islam stressed the need for greater unity in light of Hadi’s killing. “In this changing context, we believe that greater unity is necessary to ensure a fair and competitive election. We have held talks with Jamaat-e-Islami and its eight-party alliance with this urgency,” he said.
Mahfuz Alam, a prominent figure linked to the violent uprising in 2024, publicly distanced himself from the NCP over the decision. Alam stated in a Facebook post that he could no longer remain “a part of this NCP”, reflecting the deepening rift within the party.
General elections are planned to be held in Bangladesh in February next year.
(With inputs from IANS)
