Kumar Bahukhandi
Mohammad Yunus attended Hadi’s funeral (Photo: PTI)
Regarding the death of Usman Hadi, former Bangladeshi minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury claimed that Hadi was shot by someone close to him, a member of his own armed gang. Chowdhury, who served as a minister in Sheikh Hasina’s government, alleged that the Yunus government has two main objectives behind this violence: first, to postpone the elections scheduled for February 12th, and second, to eliminate activists of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party.
Student leader Sharif Usman Hadi was laid to rest on Saturday at the Dhaka University campus in Bangladesh. A large crowd was present during the funeral. Interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus also attended Hadi’s funeral.
Mohammad Yunus, while bidding farewell to Hadi, said, “Thousands of people have gathered here today. Not only here, but people across the country and among the Bangladeshi diaspora abroad are also eagerly waiting to hear about Hadi. Dear Usman Hadi, we have not come here to say goodbye to you. You reside in our hearts. As long as Bangladesh exists, you will remain a part of this nation.”
Yunus continued, “You taught us how to reach out to people with humility, how to express our views without offending anyone, and how to conduct an election campaign with dignity. We accept this lesson and pledge to put it into practice. We want to elevate our political culture to a level where Hadi’s example remains ever-present. We will not bow down to anyone; we will hold our heads high before the world. This was your promise to the people, and we will fulfill it at all costs.”
Hadi’s associate, Abdul Al Jaber, who is associated with the Inqilab Manch, has given the Yunus government an ultimatum, demanding that the government publicly clarify within the next 24 hours who is responsible for Hadi’s murder and what steps have been taken to arrest them.
It is worth noting that Osman Hadi played a crucial role during the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement. The 32-year-old Hadi was the spokesperson for the anti-Sheikh Hasina platform, Inqilab Manch. He was campaigning as an independent candidate from Dhaka in the general elections scheduled for next year. The Inqilab Manch gained prominence during the July uprising in Bangladesh last year, which led to Sheikh Hasina being forced to relinquish power and flee the country.
Significantly, the Inqilab Manch is a radical organization in Bangladesh. The organization’s objective is the elimination of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party from Bangladesh and the establishment of a radical government. Hadi had established himself as a staunch anti-India figure in Bangladesh. Osman Hadi was also known for his anti-India and controversial statements. Just a few days ago, Hadi had released a map of “Greater Bangladesh,” which included parts of India as belonging to Bangladesh.
General elections are scheduled to be held in Bangladesh next February, but Sheikh Hasina’s party has already been sidelined even before the polls. Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia is on a ventilator due to ill health, and Yunus has no power. In this situation, it is possible that after Hadi’s death, rioters will take to the streets and seize control of Bangladesh.
