In all countries, it is prohibited for the police or law enforcement agencies to make arbitrary or assumption-based statements. Even if not one hundred percent certain, they are expected to speak with reasonable confidence. In that light, somewhat belatedly, the police recently informed the media that the killer of Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Manch in Dhaka, had fled to India. They said that the prime suspect, Faisal Karim alias Daud Khan, escaped to Meghalaya, India. It was also reported that two of his associates, named Putti and Swami, have been arrested in Meghalaya. These details were officially disclosed at a press conference held at the DMP Media Center on Minto Road. The police have confirmed that the murder was premeditated. Of the eleven people arrested in connection with the killing, six have already given confessional statements. In line with government directives, preparations are underway to submit the charge sheet swiftly.
Although the case and trial process are still in their early stages, overall progress can be termed satisfactory. Meanwhile, a positive development is the reassuring information provided by Information Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, who stated that if Hadi's killer is in India, the country has promised to hand him over. On one hand, the Bangladesh police have confirmed that Hadi's killer is in India; on the other, Indian police have arrested two of the killer's associates. Now what remains is to apprehend the main killer and send him back to Bangladesh. The ball is now in India's court, and it is time for them to prove their sincerity. Hadi is not only an emotional issue for Bangladesh, but also for India and the contemporary world at large. It is a matter of conscience as well. Both conscience and emotion are relevant here. The timing is also sensitive. At such a moment, rather than fault-finding, a supportive role from all-through a mix of discussion and constructive criticism-is expected.
A slight lack of caution, excessive talk, or unnecessary actions can ruin many things. Care must be taken not to hand over any new issue to hegemonic forces or malicious actors. Case filing, investigation, and trial are ongoing processes. They are not contradictory to one another. One cannot exist without the other, nor is it desirable to create narratives such as "if this does not happen, that will not happen" or "will not be allowed to happen." Case, investigation, and trial must not be linked with the election, nor should they be positioned face-to-face. There are also diplomatic considerations here, which require thoughtful reflection.
On the Hadi issue, instead of going down that path, it would be wiser to create pressure on India and keep that pressure sustained. There is a necessity to apply rational criticism to keep law enforcement agencies and even the government under scrutiny. However, instead of doing that, intelligence failures are being repeatedly highlighted, and sometimes attempts are made to implicate intelligence agencies directly. Due to long-standing negative experiences and bitterness, some people still drag military intelligence agencies into any incident or accident. They fail to realize that these agencies are no longer what they once were; their work and operational nature have changed.
There has been much maneuvering around law enforcement agencies, particularly the Bangladesh Army. Due to the imprudent actions of a few officers, there has been considerable criticism. However, the institution itself has not deviated from its sense of duty. Those who were players in such misconduct have been removed, expelled, humiliated, or fled to survive. Otherwise, they would not have escaped consequences. In the days following the Hadi murder, a very dirty game was played. Using this incident as an issue, people moved their pieces wherever they could. They managed to spread confusion for some time, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. Along with the Hadi murder and some other incidents, this Victory Month of December has, in effect, turned into a month of fear.
Taking advantage of this situation after Hadi's death, some vested interests attempted to reap benefits from chaos. For various reasons, visible efforts were made to further inflame anti-India sentiment and destabilize the interim government. Attempts were also made to push the narrative that elections would not be allowed before justice for Hadi's murder. Ultimately, these efforts did not succeed. Although some disagreement emerged between the government and the Inqilab Manch regarding the judicial process after Osman Hadi's murder, both sides agreed on the need for a swift trial. With prudence and awareness, the government announced that the case would be tried in a speedy trial tribunal, where a verdict could be delivered within ninety days.
The writer is Deputy Head of News, Bangla Vision
