Dhaka protests block Shahbagh over killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi
Protests erupted in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Friday as demonstrators blocked the key Shahbagh intersection to demand justice over the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, bringing traffic in the area to a complete halt.
The sit-in was organised by political platform Inqilab Mancha, joined by leaders and activists of July Mancha, university students and members of the public. After Friday prayers, protesters marched from the central mosque of Dhaka University toward Shahbagh, where the demonstration turned into an ongoing sit-in.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, the Dhaka protests at Shahbagh were still continuing late into the night, causing a full suspension of vehicular movement in one of the city’s busiest areas.
Inqilab Mancha member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber announced that the protest would continue until those responsible for Sharif Osman Hadi’s killing are brought to justice. He warned that demonstrators were prepared to remain at Shahbagh overnight and said people from across the country would join the protest by Saturday morning.
Abdullah Al Jaber further cautioned that a nationwide shutdown could be announced if the government failed to take immediate and decisive action. He also urged all political parties to unite in support of the case, warning that silence would be seen by the public as complicity.
During the sit-in, protesters reiterated three key demands, including the formation of a fast-track trial tribunal with a verdict within 30 days, an impartial investigation involving internationally recognised institutions, and the identification, arrest and punishment of alleged “Awami League militants” accused of hiding within civil and military intelligence agencies.
The protesters also demanded the resignation of the interior adviser, special assistant and law adviser, holding them responsible for what they described as failure to ensure justice and accountability.
Sharif Osman Hadi was shot on December 12 in Dhaka’s Bijoy Nagar area and sustained critical injuries. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being shifted to Evercare Hospital. On December 15, he was transferred to Singapore for advanced medical treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries on December 18.
The Dhaka protests at Shahbagh reflect growing public anger over the killing, with demonstrators vowing to continue pressure on authorities until concrete action is taken.
