Bangladesh: Protesters seeking justice for Hadi jam Dhaka

Bangladesh's slain radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi's party activists on Friday blocked one of Dhaka's busiest intersections, demanding justice for his killing, disrupting traffic in the capital for several hours.

After Friday prayers, leaders and supporters of Inqilab Moncho and July Moncho, joined by students and members of the public, brought out a rally from the Dhaka University Central Mosque and marched towards Shahbagh, where they staged a sit-in, Daily Star newspaper reported. Police said the agitators began blocking the intersection around 2:30 pm (local time) and traffic had remained suspended since then. The protesters blocked the main roads at Shahbagh, bringing vehicular movement to a complete halt.


Addressing the demonstrators, Inqilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber said the group would continue the blockade until justice was ensured for Hadi's killing, adding protesters were prepared to stay overnight at the site if needed. "From today, we declare this Shahbagh as 'Shaheed Osman Hadi Chattar'. Our movement will not leave the streets until justice is ensured for Hadi's killing," Al Jaber was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune newspaper.

Shahbagh is a strategic junction connecting several key parts of Dhaka, and blockades there often cause widespread traffic congestion across the city.

Hadi, a staunch critic of India alongside the Awami League, was one of the leaders of last year's student-led movement that toppled the Sheikh Hasina-led govt. He later floated the Inqilab Moncho.

Hadi was a candidate for the Feb election. He was shot in the head by masked gunmen on Dec 12 in Dhaka. Six days later, he died at a Singapore hospital. Inqilab Moncho has demanded resignation of home adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and law adviser Asif Nazrul, holding them accountable for the murder.