Inqilab Moncho member-secretary Abdullah Al Jaber has formally requested a United Nations-led investigation into the assassination of the group’s founder, Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi.
Speaking at a press conference at Dhaka University on Tuesday, Jaber alleged that the current interim government has failed to provide justice, comparing the sluggish pace of the investigation to the decade-long delays in the infamous Sagar-Runi murder case.
Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent organizer of 2024 July Revolution and an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming February 12 elections, was shot in the head on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area. After initial surgery in Dhaka, he was airlifted to Singapore General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on December 18. His death triggered nationwide protests and deep political mourning, with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus describing his passing as an "irreparable loss for the nation."
During the press briefing, Jaber expressed frustration with the judicial process, noting that the complainant side is dissatisfied with the progress following the fifth court hearing. He further claimed that Inqilab Moncho has been denied an audience with the Chief Adviser to discuss the case. "We believe a fair trial is impossible under this administration," Jaber stated, calling for international intervention to ensure accountability.
Jaber also criticized the broader political landscape, accusing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of campaigning for an individual allegedly involved in the Subarnachar rape case.
He warned that if the upcoming elections are not fair and inclusive, the participating political parties must bear the ultimate responsibility for the resulting instability.
Additionally, he raised concerns over the Election Commission's inability to guarantee candidate safety, citing Hadi’s assassination as a chilling precedent that makes a safe election unlikely without significant reforms.
The Inqilab Moncho leader concluded by urging dual citizens to refrain from voting and demanded that political parties clarify their positions on Bangladesh’s strategic and ethical relationship with India. The police have previously identified suspects with alleged links to the Awami League, but Inqilab Moncho maintains that the true masterminds remain at large.
