Hundreds of leaders and activists of Inqilab Moncho blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the capital on Friday evening following clashes with police, protesting what they described as an unprovoked police attack and demanding justice for the killing of the platform’s spokesperson, Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi.
The blockade began around 5:30 PM, shortly after protesters marched from Raju Sculpture on Dhaka University campus and took position at Shahbagh around 5:15 PM.
Leaders and activists from different levels of Inqilab Moncho, along with DUCSU Social Services Secretary AB Zubair, joined the programme.
Earlier in the afternoon, at about 4:00 PM, Inqilab Moncho activists began a procession toward State Guest House Jamuna to press their demand for justice for Hadi’s murder.
The procession, however, was stopped and clashes broke out with police.
The organisation alleged that police used tear gas, sound grenades and water cannons to disperse the protesters.
Several leaders and activists, including Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, were injured in the clashes and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Among the injured were DUCSU leader Fatima Tasnim Juma, RUCSU GS Salauddin Ammar, JUCSU leader Shanta Akhtar and several other activists, according to the organisers.
Addressing protesters at Shahbagh, DUCSU Social Services Secretary AB Zubair criticised the government, calling the police action “shameful and disgraceful,” and said the situation could have been resolved through dialogue.
Inqilab Moncho leaders claimed that police attacked their peaceful sit-in programme in front of the InterContinental Hotel without provocation.
They said the sit-in had been organised to demand a United Nations–supervised investigation into Hadi’s killing.
The protesters announced that they would continue the blockade at Shahbagh until justice for Osman Hadi’s murder is ensured.
SH
