Bangladesh is witnessing escalating protests as Inqilab Moncho announced all-out blockades across all divisional cities from Sunday, intensifying its agitation over the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The organisation said the blockades would begin at 11:00 am local time, according to Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star.
Nationwide Protests Expand Beyond Dhaka
The announcement was made from Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, where Inqilab Moncho activists have continued a sit-in since Friday. On Saturday, supporters blocked roads and staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram, and Kushtia, demanding swift justice for Hadi, local media reported.
In the capital, protesters briefly shifted from Shahbagh to the Aziz Supermarket area on Saturday to allow BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to visit Hadi’s grave near Dhaka University, before returning to Shahbagh and halting vehicular movement once again.
Warning of Escalation
Addressing protesters at Shahbagh, Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber warned of a sharp escalation if authorities fail to respond.
“Today we are in Shahbagh; tomorrow we may occupy Jamuna, the parliament, or even the cantonment,” Jaber said, as quoted by The Daily Star. He criticised the government for what he described as inaction, stating that no senior official had visited the protest site despite days of demonstrations.
Public confidence in the administration, he claimed, was steadily eroding.
Broad-Based Participation
Protests on Saturday saw participation from women, children, and people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Demonstrators recited poetry, read verses from the Holy Quran, and raised slogans demanding accountability for Hadi’s killing.
Who Was Sharif Osman Hadi
According to Prothom Alo, Sharif Osman Hadi—considered a key figure in the July mass uprising—founded Inqilab Mancha in August last year and was seen as a potential candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
On December 12, Hadi was shot while travelling in a rickshaw in Old Paltan, Dhaka, shortly after Friday prayers. He later died while undergoing treatment in Singapore. He was laid to rest near the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.
Unrest and Wider Fallout
Hadi’s death has triggered widespread unrest in Bangladesh, with reports of vandalism and arson, including attacks on media offices in Dhaka. Protests have also been reported outside the country, including in parts of India, amid broader concerns over violence and law and order issues.
As tensions rise, the developing situation has raised concerns about political stability and public safety in Bangladesh.
