KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson for the Inqilab Manch, is undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being shot in the head; he is undergoing surgery and the bullet remains lodged in his head.
- Hadi’s sister Mahfuza has alleged that the Indian intelligence agency ‘RAW’ and the Awami League ‘will not let him live’.
- Road blockade by like-minded organizations including the July Movement in Jhalakathi; warning demanding the arrest of the attackers within 24 hours.
- At the time of the incident, two men on a black motorcycle opened fire from close range after Friday prayers and quickly fled.
- Hadi had previously alleged that he had received death threats from more than 30 domestic and foreign numbers.
Sharif Osman Hadi, a potential independent MP candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency and spokesperson of Inqilab Manch, was shot in the head and is currently undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). According to the latest information, his surgery is underway, and the bullet is lodged inside his head. He is kept on life support in the hospital.
Sister’s explosive allegations: ‘RAW’ and Awami League will not let him live’
Hadi’s sister Mahfuza has made strong allegations regarding the seriously injured incident. Before leaving Jhalakathi for Dhaka on Friday (December 12) afternoon, she told reporters,
ভারতীয় গোয়েন্দা সংস্থা ‘র’ আমার ভাইকে বাঁচতে দেবে না। আমার ভাইয়ের ওপরে যারা গুলি করেছে আমরা তাদের বিচার চাই।
Translation: Indian intelligence agency RAW will not let my brother live. We want justice for those who shot at my brother.
Mahfuza also said,
আমার ভাই ভারতবিরোধী লেখা লেখে, বাংলাদেশপন্থী লেখা লেখে। সে বাংলাদেশকে খুব ভালোবাসে। আমি ওকে (হাদি) আর বাংলাদেশে রাখব না, দেশের বাহিরে পাঠিয়ে দিব। ভারতের ‘র’ আছে, আওয়ামী লীগ আছে – তাকে বাঁচতে দেবে না।
Translation: “My brother writes anti-India and pro-Bangladesh articles. He loves Bangladesh very much. I will not keep him (Hadi) in Bangladesh anymore, I will send him out of the country. India has ‘RAW’, Awami League – they will not let him live.”
Road blockade in Jhalakathi, 24-hour ultimatum
Like-minded political organizations including the July Movement blocked the road in Jhalakathi to protest the attack on Hadi. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, NCP and Gana Adhikar Parishad activists participated in it.
The blockaders said,
ওসমান হাদীর ওপর হামলাকারীদের আগামী ২৪ ঘণ্টার মধ্যে গ্রেপ্তার করতে না পারলে তারা আরও কঠোর কর্মসূচি ঘোষণা করবেন। তাদের দাবি, হামলার ঘটনাটি পরিকল্পিত এবং দ্রুত দোষীদের চিহ্নিত করে আইনের আওতায় আনা প্রয়োজন।
Translation: They will announce a stricter program if the attackers of Osman Hadi are not arrested within the next 24 hours. They claim that the attack was planned and the culprits need to be identified quickly and brought to justice.
NCP’s Jhalakathi district coordinator Mainul Islam Manna said,
হামলাকারীদের গ্রেপ্তার করা না হলে শনিবার বিকাল ৪টায় ঝালকাঠি শহরের কলেজ মোড় এলাকায় সকড় অবরোধ করা হবে। জনগণের দুর্ভোগ বিবেচনা করে আজকের কর্মসূচি সমাপ্ত করা হয়েছে।
Translation: If the attackers are not arrested, a road blockade will be held at 4 pm on Saturday at the College intersection in Jhalakathi city. Considering the suffering of the people, today’s program has been ended.
Earlier, Sharif Osman Hadi, a candidate for the 13th National Parliament election in the capital’s Bijoynagar Box Culvert area and spokesperson of the Inqilab Manch, was shot in the afternoon while campaigning.
Read more: Doctors Reveal Critical Condition of Osman Hadi
Eyewitnesses said that after Friday prayers, two men came from the Motijheel direction on a black motorcycle. The person sitting on the back of the motorcycle fired at Hadi’s head from close range. The motorcycle quickly left the area immediately after the attack. Hadi was then brought to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Md. Asaduzzaman said that Hadi was shot in the brain and has been put on life support. His surgery is underway.
It is worth noting that Hadi had said that he had received various threats from 30 domestic and foreign numbers in November. In a post on Facebook on November 14, he said that he had been threatened with murder, burning his house, and rape of his mother, sister and wife.
Osman Hadi wrote, “In the last three hours, Awami League killers have called and texted my number from at least 30 foreign numbers. The summary of which is – I am being kept under surveillance at all times. They will set fire to my house. They will rape my mother, sister and wife and kill me.”
Source: RTV
