The demand was made by Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Manch, at a press conference held in front of the Shahbagh National Museum on Monday (December 22).
Addressing the press, Jaber said the killing of Osman Hadi is a crucial test for post-July Bangladesh. “If visible and effective steps are not taken in this case, public trust in the state will be further eroded,” he said, adding that the state must consider international intelligence assistance to guarantee a fair investigation and trial.
He noted that Bangladesh has previously sought international cooperation in several major incidents and argued that the same approach should be followed in the murder of a figure as significant as Osman Hadi. Jaber described Hadi as an important independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency and one of the most fearless voices in the post-July period, who consistently spoke out without fear. He also claimed that Hadi played a key role in maintaining the apparent stability of the current government system.
Warning of possible repetition of such incidents, Jaber said, “Osman Hadi’s blood has been shed, and unless we see the killers brought to justice, there is no way forward. If justice is not ensured, incidents like this will increase in the country.”
He alleged that recent efforts are being made to push the murder of Osman Hadi out of the main national discourse. “If Hadi is excluded from the main discussion, then no issue will truly remain central,” he said, stressing that all state decisions should be taken with the Hadi murder at the core.
Referring to a recent meeting between the chief advisor and security analysts, Jaber expressed hope that the government would announce a clear decision on forming a judicial tribunal and seeking international assistance within the next 24 hours.
He urged the state to inform the public about concrete steps taken in the trial process and warned that there would be “no compromise” over justice for Osman Hadi.
Fatima Tasnim Juma, Liberation War and Democratic Movement Secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), was also present at the press conference.
