The Inqilab Mancha has announced a seven-hour blockade program from 11am to 6pm in divisional cities across the country from Sunday, demanding justice for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan have said a chargesheet in the Hadi murder case will be submitted within the next 10 days.
Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber announced the blockade around 11:20pm on Saturday. Shortly before that, around 11pm, the DMP commissioner and the adviser disclosed the timeline for submitting the chargesheet.
Rejecting their statements, Inqilab Mancha demanded that the chargesheet be submitted within three working days and the trial completed within 26 working days.
Addressing protesters, Jaber said: “What did we do today? We only blocked Shahbag. From 11am tomorrow, we are announcing a blockade program in all eight divisions. There will be no compromise over the blood of Osman Hadi.”
He also alleged that members of the platform have been receiving death threats in recent days. “We do not fear death. Neither the police nor any intelligence agency is providing us security. We must ensure our own security,” he added.
DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali said the chargesheet would be submitted within 10 days. “By January 7, the chargesheet for this case will be filed,” he said, adding that significant progress has been made in the investigation.
He said 10 people have so far been arrested in connection with the case, including the parents, wife, brother-in-law and other associates of Faisal. During the investigation, police recovered two pistols, a motorcycle and a signed cheque worth Tk218 crore, he added.
The commissioner said all details of the investigation could not be disclosed at this stage, as it could alert criminals or their associates. He announced that the DB chief would brief the media at a press conference on Sunday at 11:15am.
Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said Bangladesh has informed the Indian government through diplomatic channels and received assurances of cooperation if the main suspect is found in India.
She said the suspects would be tried in absentia if they have fled abroad, and assured protesters that the trial would be completed swiftly during the tenure of the interim government.
Referring to the Asiya murder case, she said trials could be completed within a short time frame, adding that efforts would be made to conclude the Hadi murder trial as quickly as possible.
Jaber said the decision to announce the blockade had been taken around 8pm, although it was formally declared after the DMP commissioner and the adviser addressed the protesters regarding the progress of the investigation.
