Inqilab Moncho blocks Shahbagh again, issues 22-day ultimatum to complete Hadi murder trial

Inqilab Moncho activists resumed the Shahbagh intersection blockade on Friday after a three-day interval, demanding justice for the murder of their spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.

They threatened to launch a movement to topple the interim government after 22 days unless the murder trial is completed against all the collaborators within the timeframe.

Previously, the Shahbagh blockade was enforced for four straight days until Monday.

On Monday night, the organisers announced a temporary pause amid a severe cold wave, and later extended the pause due to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s death and funeral.

On Friday, before the noon prayers, Inqilab Moncho published a facebook post, urging people from all walks of life to join the day’s blockade programme.

After the jumma prayers, the group’s activists marched towards the Shahbagh intersection from the Dhaka University Central Mosque, and subsequently blocked the crucial point. However, vehicular movement continued smoothly on the adjacent roads.

Low traffic on the weekly holiday likely helped avoid acute traffic congestion.

At the blockade programme, Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber pledged to continue movement against all kinds of foreign expansionism in the path shown by Hadi.

“The fight has only just begun,” Jaber said.

The government has pledged to submit a charge sheet in the murder case by 7 January, and Inqilab Moncho gave authorities 30 working days to complete trial, he said. Now, 22 days remain before the deadline expires, he noted.

However, it will not be accepted if the charge sheet only targets Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect and shooter of Hadi, Jaber warned.

All the behind-the-scenes actors must be booked in the trial, and the trial must be completed before the deadline, he said.

Otherwise, a movement calling for overthrowing the government will start after 22 days, and continue until the general elections are held on 12 February.

The movement would continue demanding swift trial, he said signaling demonstrations could resume after the elected government takes over.

On Saturday, Inqilab Moncho will contact all the pro-Bangladesh political parties and cultural organisation, seeking support for their movement. If they voice solidarity, Inqilab Moncho will welcome it, Jaber said. However, if the politicians and cultural activists reject the demand for justice, the Inqilab Moncho will decided its fate by itself on the streets, he warned.

As many as 21 days have passed since Hadi was shot at, and 15 days have passed since he died. But the government has not arrested even 21 credible suspects. So far, the law enforcers have arrested only 11 people. But even these arrestees are merely relatives or acquaintances of the killers, and not directly involved in the killed, Jaber said.

The government has even failed to specify where shooter Faisal is hiding, or who were involved in the shooting attack, Jaber said, adding the current administration has no right to remain at office with such weak record.