Complete Hadi murder trial by 30 days

Inqilab Moncho yesterday demanded the immediate resignation of the Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and CA's Special Assistant on Home Affairs Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, holding them accountable for the murder of the platform's spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.

The organisation warned that it would launch a movement to topple the interim government if justice is not ensured, and said the officials must disclose the reasons for their failure to provide security before stepping down.

In a press release issued yesterday afternoon, Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber outlined a three-point demand on the investigation and trial of the murder.

The platform called for the judicial process to be completed within a maximum of 30 working days through a Speedy Trial Tribunal.

It also urged the government to involve professional foreign intelligence agencies, such as the FBI or Scotland Yard, to ensure a transparent investigation.

Additionally, the platform demanded the identification, arrest, and trial of what it described as "Awami terrorists" allegedly hiding within civil and military intelligence agencies.

Around the same time the demands were made, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said in a Facebook post that the murder trial would be held under a Speedy Trial Tribunal.

"According to Section 10 of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002, the trial of this murder case will be completed within a maximum of 90 days after the police report is submitted," he wrote.

Earlier in the day, at around 12:00pm, Inqilab Moncho held an emergency press conference in front of the National Museum.

"You cannot simply hold an election in a hurry and leave without identifying Osman Hadi's killers. This will not be allowed," Jaber said. "Justice must be ensured before the election; no election will take place before that."

He again threatened to launch a movement to oust the interim government if justice is not ensured for the murder of Osman Hadi.

Addressing the briefing, Jaber said a 24-hour ultimatum had been issued during Hadi's namaz-e-janaza. "However, the deadline has passed without any visible steps from the home adviser or the concerned authorities regarding the arrest of the accused," he said.

He alleged that the absence of the home adviser or his special assistant at the ministry's briefing amounted to trivialising the incident. "The home and law advisers, along with others concerned, are neglecting their duties and merely trying to avoid responsibility," Jaber added.

Later in the afternoon, Inqilab Moncho staged a protest procession in the capital, reiterating its demand for the immediate arrest of the killers. The march began at the Shahbagh intersection around 3:20pm, passed through the TSC area, and ended at the Central Shaheed Minar.

Protesters chanted slogans such as "Slavery or freedom? Freedom, freedom", "Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka", and "Who are you, who am I? Hadi, Hadi".

At both the press briefing and the protest, Jaber reiterated that Inqilab Moncho activists would not leave the streets until the killers and their alleged patrons are brought to justice.