'No Justice, No Election': Yunus Govt Orders Fast-Track Trial In Hadi Murder Case After Poll Boycott Threat

Bangladesh’s interim government on Monday announced a fast-track trial in the killing of activist and political organiser Sharif Osman Hadi, following sharp warnings from his aides that upcoming national elections would be disrupted unless justice is delivered before polling.

The announcement came hours after leaders of Inquilab Mancha, a platform led by Hadi, publicly cautioned interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus that no election would be acceptable without the completion of the murder trial. The threat has added to mounting political tension in the country, already grappling with protests and targeted violence.

Inquilab Mancha Issues Ultimatum

Addressing a press conference outside the National Museum at Shahbagh, Inquilab Mancha member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber said the movement would not allow elections to proceed unless those responsible for Hadi’s killing were brought to justice. He warned of street agitation if the demand was ignored.

Jaber said the interim administration had a responsibility to ensure accountability before pushing the country towards polls. While acknowledging Yunus’s presence at Hadi’s funeral, he said assurances of justice must be backed by concrete action. “Justice must come first. Then elections,” he said, adding that the group would decide its future course after a protest march later in the day.

Hadi Killing And Political Fallout

Sharif Osman Hadi, a key organiser of the so-called July uprising and convener of Inquilab Mancha, was shot by unidentified assailants on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area. He was later flown to Singapore for treatment, where he died on December 18. His killing has triggered widespread protests across Bangladesh.

Since his death, unrest has escalated in several parts of the country. Media organisations, cultural institutions and public spaces have come under attack, while reports of violence against minorities have drawn international concern.

Another Shooting Raises Alarm

Amid the turmoil, a senior labour wing leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP) was shot in Khulna on Monday morning, further fuelling fears of deteriorating law and order. Md Motaleb Shikdar, a central organiser of the NCP-affiliated labour body Jatiya Sramik Shakti, was attacked by unidentified assailants at a house in the Sonadanga area.

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Police said Shikdar was critically injured and rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital before being shifted for advanced scans. Party leaders said he was actively involved in organising a divisional labour rally scheduled in the coming days.

The incidents have intensified political uncertainty in Bangladesh, with opposition groups accusing the interim government of failing to rein in violence. The Yunus-led administration now faces pressure from multiple fronts as it attempts to stabilise the situation and move towards elections.

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With protests continuing and political leaders warning of further unrest, the fast-track trial announcement is being closely watched as a test of the interim government’s ability to restore confidence, ensure justice and prevent further destabilisation ahead of a crucial electoral phase.