No one in parliament is talking about justice for Hadi murder, claims sister

Masuma Akter, sister of former spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, today (7 May) alleged that neither the prime minister nor the home minister has spoken in parliament regarding justice for her brother’s murder.

Speaking at a protest programme organised by students in front of the main gate of University of Barishal, she said Hadi had dreamed of establishing justice in society and worked to sustain the interim government.

“Hadi took to the streets to support the interim government. Yet during that government’s tenure, my brother was murdered in broad daylight,” she said.

Masuma said when ordinary people protested, demanding justice for the killing, they were labelled as trying to obstruct the election process.

“Now there is an elected government, but the investigation into Hadi’s murder has been deferred 13 times. Neither the home minister nor the prime minister is speaking in parliament about justice for Hadi,” she said.

She further said Osman Hadi envisioned building a justice-based state and wanted to ensure justice even for his enemies.

“Today, however, there is no justice for him,” she added.

Masuma also alleged that Hadi was killed during the tenure of the interim government with assistance from India. 

She demanded that the state must clarify how those involved crossed the border and where they fled afterwards.

Referring to the murder case, she said many people identify Faisal as the prime accused, but questioned whether he alone could have carried out such an act.

“The nation deserves to know who assisted him and who guaranteed his safe escape,” she said.

Stating that people across the country want justice, Masuma said, “The people of Bangladesh want justice for Sharif Osman Hadi’s murder. They have remained patient for a long time. Osman Hadi is no longer only my brother; Osman Hadi means Bangladesh.”

She added that she would not return home without securing justice for her brother.

Hadi’s brother-in-law Md Amir Hossain Hawlader, and students of the university were also present at the protest procession.

On 12 December at around 2:20pm, assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on Hadi, leaving him critically injured with gunshot wounds to the head and below the right ear.

He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital, Dhaka. As his condition worsened, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on 15 December for advanced treatment. He died there on 18 December, about a week later, while undergoing treatment.

Following the shooting, a case was filed with the Paltan Police Station on 14 December on charges of attempted murder, which was later converted into a murder case after Hadi’s death.

Later, Dhaka Metropolitan Police said Faisal and Alamgir had fled the country with the help of Sangma through the Mymensingh’s Haluaghat border. They were later arrested.