Osman Hadi's Protests: Bangladesh's interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has been facing ouster calls amid fresh charges by Sharif Osman Hadi’s brother. Hadi, a radical leader who led the exit of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot at close range in Dhaka on December 12. He was flown to Singapore for better treatment, but succumbed to injury, resulting in massive protests across the country.
Amid the chaos, Hadi’s brother, Sharif Omar Hadi, accused the incumbent government of orchestrating the murder to gain an advantage in the upcoming general elections. He said Yunus has to flee the country if justice is not delivered before elections.
When will Bangladesh go for polls?
Bangladesh will hold the general elections on February 12, its first since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in a violent student-led protest in August 2024.
A referendum will simultaneously be held on the voting day, February 12, to elicit public opinion on a series of reform proposals of the Chief Adviser Yunus-led National Consensus Commission.
Why is Yunus govt facing wrath of protestors?
Speaking at a "Shahidi Shopoth" (martyr's oath) rally organised by Inqilab Moncho in Dhaka's Shahbagh on Tuesday, Omar directly accused authorities of responsibility for his brother's death.
"It is you who had Osman Hadi killed, and now you are trying to foil the election by using this as an issue," he said, claiming the assassination was orchestrated by elements within the government to disrupt the upcoming national elections scheduled for February.
The slain's brother said Yunus would also be forced to flee the country if justice is not delivered before the polls.
Omar further alleged that his brother was targeted because he refused to submit to any agency or "foreign masters," emphasising Osman's commitment to holding timely polls. He warned that failure to deliver swift justice could force those in power to flee the country, drawing parallels to the ouster of former Prime Minister Hasina.
"Deep conspiracy"
Inqilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, addressing the same rally, described the killing as part of a "deep conspiracy" involving international intelligence agencies and domestic "fascist associates" aimed at undermining Bangladesh's sovereignty and the gains of the 2024 July uprising.
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Jaber reiterated a 30-working-day ultimatum for the government to identify and arrest the killers through an international-standard investigation, threatening escalated nationwide protests if unmet.