Dhaka protests block Shahbagh over killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi

The political platform Inqilab Mancha blocked Shahbagh in protest against the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi In Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka.

After Friday prayers, leaders and workers of Inqilab Mancha and July Mancha, along with students and members of the public, took out a protest march from Dhaka University’s central mosque. The march reached Shahbagh, where it turned into a sit-in.

According to Bangladeshi media, the sit-in at Shahbagh is still continuing, causing a complete suspension of traffic in the area.

Inqilab Mancha’s member secretary, Abdullah Al Jaber, announced that the sit-in would continue until the killers are brought to justice. He said the protesters were prepared to stay at Shahbagh overnight if needed.

Abdullah Al Jaber said people from across the country would join the protest by morning and warned of a nationwide shutdown if the government failed to take immediate action.

He also called on all political parties to unite in support of the case into Osman Hadi’s killing, warning that failure to do so would lead the public to believe they were complicit.

During the sit-in, Inqilab Mancha reiterated its three key demands, including the formation of a fast-track trial tribunal with a verdict within 30 days, an impartial investigation involving internationally recognised institutions, the identification, arrest and punishment of alleged “Awami League militants” said to be hiding within civil and military intelligence agencies, and the resignation of the interior adviser, special assistant and law adviser.

Sharif Osman Hadi was shot on 12 December in Dhaka’s Bijoy Nagar area and was critically injured. He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital.

On 15 December, he was transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on 18 December while undergoing medical care.