Protests erupt in Shahbagh, Dhaka University after Osman Hadi’s death

Demonstrators demand trial of the attackers

Supporters and activists of the July Moncho have taken to Shahbagh in Dhaka, demanding justice for the killing of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi.

Protests also erupted on the Dhaka University campus as news of Hadi’s death reached Dhaka from Singapore late on Thursday.

Around 10:30pm, several dozen demonstrators gathered at the Shahbagh intersection, shouting slogans and calling for the trial of those responsible for the killing.

At the same time, students from different halls marched to the TSC under the banner of Anti-Imperialist Students, where they staged a protest.

DUCSU Social Welfare Secretary AB Zubair told the gathering, “I cannot even put my feelings into words. After two thousand lives lost, why did we have to lose Hadi as well?

“Because of this failed interim government, Hadi has had to become a martyr. Police knew, the killers were near him. The state’s intelligence agencies knew everything.

“Yet [on Thursday], Hadi has been martyred under their watch. If they did not know, why are they being paid? The so-called civilised are speaking on talk shows while we are forced into a killing field.”

After his remarks, Zubair led the crowd in an oath, saying: “We will all become Hadi. We will continue to fight, generation after generation.”

Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, meanwhile, brought out a procession near the TSC, shouting slogans including “Delhi or Dhaka, Dhaka, Dhaka”, “Resist Indian aggression” and “One Hadi has fallen, a hundred thousand Hadi will rise”.