Inquilab Mancho activists gathered on Saturday for the last rites of their late leader Sharif Usman bin Hadi, while heavy security was deployed in parts of Dhaka, two days after his assassination in Singapore.
Preparations for Hadi’s funeral prayers are underway at Manik Miyan Avenue, south of the National Parliament building. The funeral prayer is scheduled for 2 pm (local time). With only a few hours left for the ceremony, security has been tightened in the area and movement has been restricted.
Hadi, convener of Inquilab Mancho, was shot at close range while traveling in a rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on 12 December.
On 15 December, he was flown by air ambulance to Singapore for advanced medical treatment. He died of his injuries on 18 December.
News of his death sparked protests across Dhaka, with activists demanding justice for their late leader. Several rounds of demonstrations took place on Friday after Hadi’s body was brought back to the capital.
Inquilab Mancho has appealed to its supporters to maintain peace during the funeral procession, but the situation in Dhaka remains tense.
Amid the unrest, several civil organizations demanded the resignation of the Home Advisor, accusing him of failing to maintain law and order following Hadi’s assassination and the violence that followed.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the 16 organizations expressed deep concern over the deteriorating public security situation and called for immediate steps to restore law and order.
According to BD News, these groups include Ganatantrik Adhikar Samiti, Network for Democratic Bangladesh, Charan Cultural Centre, Naripokkho, Association for Land Reform and Development, University Teachers Network, Citizens Alliance and Voice for Reform.
“Even after a year after the July uprising, the interim government has failed to ensure the safety of civilians from the ousted Awami League and other forces at home and abroad,” it said.
The Council of Editors of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Newspaper Owners Association (NOAB) also strongly condemned the attacks, vandalism and arson on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, calling it a serious threat to the freedom of the press.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed that the violence following Hadi’s assassination was part of a conspiracy to create uncertainty ahead of Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections in February next year.
BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir clarified the party’s stand at a press conference after the party’s National Standing Committee meeting late on Friday night.
Fakhrul said, “We strongly condemn and express our disgust at these heinous incidents, which show that a well-established group is deliberately pushing the country towards anarchy.”
Inquilab Moncho activists are gathering for the funeral procession, while the interim government is under intense pressure to maintain peace in the capital.