Inqilab Moncho sets 24-day deadline for Yunus government to conclude Osman Hadi murder trial

Yunus interim government faces 24-day deadline as Inqilab Moncho presses for justice in Osman Hadi case

Inqilab Moncho has issued a 24-day ultimatum to Bangladesh’s interim government, demanding the completion of the trial in the murder of party leader Sharif Osman Hadi and punishment for everyone involved in the killing. The announcement was made through the platform’s official Facebook page.

Hadi was shot a day after the Bangladesh Election Commission announced the schedule for the next general elections. He was later airlifted to Singapore for medical treatment but died on the night of December 18.

Ultimatum to the Yunus-led interim government

Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Moncho, said the entire case must be concluded within the stipulated time frame.

“The trial of the entire killing squad, including the killer, the mastermind, the accomplices, those who aided the escape, and those who provided shelter, must be completed within the next 24 days,” he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

The ultimatum was formally directed at the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government through the organisation’s social media post.

Protests and blockades continue

The announcement comes amid sustained protests by Inqilab Moncho across Bangladesh. On Sunday, party leaders and supporters blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka as part of a wider shutdown in major cities, pressing for swift justice in the case.

According to The Daily Star, during a protest on Saturday night, environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali visited the site and spoke to demonstrators about the progress of the investigation.

Dispute over suspects’ whereabouts

Tensions further escalated after the Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed that the two main suspects in Hadi’s killing had fled to India via the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh and entered Meghalaya. The claim was firmly denied by Indian authorities.

“There is no evidence whatsoever of these individuals crossing the international border from the Haluaghat sector into Meghalaya. No such incident has been detected or reported by the BSF. These claims are baseless and misleading,” Border Security Force (Meghalaya Frontier) Inspector General OP Upadhayay told HT earlier.

Political developments ahead of elections

Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) announced it has joined a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance ahead of the upcoming general elections, a move that has triggered internal dissent within the party.

NCP convenor Nahid Islam said the decision was driven by political realities rather than ideology.

“In this current political situation, it is not possible for the NCP to contest the elections alone. That is why we decided to form an alliance with eight like-minded parties. This is not an ideological alliance; it is an electoral understanding,” he said.

NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb echoed the stance, saying, “We’re politically aligned on implementing the reform proposals within the democratic alliance. This will allow us to strengthen the role of eight to ten parties in implementing the July uprising’s political agreement.”

Internal rift surfaces

Despite these clarifications, the alliance has sparked sharp divisions within the NCP. About 30 senior leaders submitted a memorandum opposing the tie-up, citing Jamaat-e-Islami’s controversial history, including its opposition to Bangladesh’s independence and alleged role in atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War. At least two senior leaders have resigned in protest.