TDS Desk:

People from all walks of life have gathered at Manik Mia Avenue, near the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, to attend the janaza (funeral prayer) of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, and pay their respects.

Supporters began arriving early Saturday morning in processions of varying sizes. Large crowds filled the area around the parliament, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as, “We will not let Hadi Bhai’s blood go in vain” and “Justice for Hadi’s murder.”

Bilal Hossain, a participant from Narayanganj, expressed frustration: “It pains us that the killer has not been caught. Whoever is responsible must be brought to justice immediately.”

The janaza is scheduled for 2pm at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, after which he will be laid to rest beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.

Authorities have deployed heightened security, including police, RAB, Ansar, military personnel, and 20 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in and around the plaza and other key areas of the capital.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has also deployed officers equipped with 1,000 body-worn cameras to maintain law and order.

Traffic will be completely blocked from Khejurbagan Crossing to Manik Mia Avenue, with commuters advised to follow alternative routes. Attendees have been requested not to carry bags or heavy items, and flying drones over the area has been prohibited for security reasons.

A one-day state mourning is being observed nationwide in Hadi’s honour, with national flags flying at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private institutions, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad.

Hadi was shot in the head on 12 December in the Box Culvert Road area of Old Paltan, Dhaka, a day after the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election was announced.

He was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, later shifted to Evercare Hospital, and airlifted to Singapore on 15 December for advanced treatment. He passed away at around 9:30pm on 18 December at Singapore General Hospital.

Earlier in the morning, the body of Hadi has been taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka for autopsy. Around 9:45am on Saturday, his body was moved from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar under tight security.