The political platform Inquilab Mancha, founded and led by the late anti-India figure Sharif Osman Hadi, has issued a stark warning to Bangladesh’s interim authorities, stating that it will launch a large-scale mass movement to remove the current administration if decisive action is not taken in connection with Hadi’s murder. The warning came after a 24-hour ultimatum issued during Hadi’s namaz-e-janaza on Sunday expired without any visible arrests or concrete steps by law enforcement agencies, according to a report by Dhaka-based daily The Daily Star.
Inquilab Mancha’s member secretary, Abdullah Al Jaber, said the group had waited for action from the authorities, but the deadline passed without any sign of progress from the home adviser or other relevant officials responsible for handling the case. He announced that a protest procession would be held in Dhaka at 3 pm on Monday, during which the organisation would formally decide its next course of action. According to Jaber, this would include a decision on whether Inquilab Mancha would continue to support the interim government or move towards launching a movement aimed at toppling it.
Jaber also alleged that the absence of the home adviser and his special assistant from a recent ministry briefing was a deliberate attempt to downplay the seriousness of the incident and avoid responsibility. He said such conduct reflected a lack of commitment to delivering justice in a case that has generated nationwide anger and unrest.
The warning follows the ultimatum issued by Inquilab Mancha on Sunday, in which the group claimed that its demands were declared with the backing and vocal consent of more than one million people across Bangladesh. Despite this, the platform alleged that not a single demand had been implemented by the authorities within the stipulated time frame.
Inquilab Mancha has been steadily increasing pressure on the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, even as Bangladesh’s Special Branch and Detective Branch acknowledged that they have no confirmed information about the current whereabouts of the prime suspect in Hadi’s killing. Police officials have also stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the suspect crossed the border. Following Hadi’s shooting on December 12, Islamist groups and several leaders associated with the NCP took to the streets, demanding that India hand over the alleged shooter and targeting Indian diplomatic missions in multiple Bangladeshi cities, including Dhaka.
The latest warning has raised questions about whether groups that were once seen as supporters or backers of the interim administration—particularly those known for their aggressive protests against ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina—are now turning against the very government they helped bring to power.
At the same time, leaders of minority organisations, under the banner of the Minority Unity Front, also staged protests on Monday. They alleged that the Yunus-led administration has failed to stop violence, killings, and the persecution of minority communities across Bangladesh. Forming a human chain, they said the absence of proper investigations and timely justice had created an atmosphere of fear, insecurity, and mistrust among citizens, according to a separate report by The Daily Star.
Escalating his criticism of the interim government, Jaber accused Yunus’s home and law advisers, along with other officials, of neglecting their responsibilities and attempting to evade accountability. He warned that justice must be delivered before the upcoming elections, stating that if justice is denied and public anger spills over, the situation could become uncontrollable.
Jaber further questioned the effectiveness of intelligence agencies, arguing that if institutions funded by public money are unable to identify the perpetrators, their continued existence serves little purpose. He demanded the identification and arrest of what he described as “Awami associates” within both civil and military intelligence structures.
As part of his demands, Jaber called for the immediate formation of a Speedy Trial Tribunal to hear the murder case of Sharif Osman Hadi. He also suggested seeking assistance from international investigative bodies such as the FBI or Scotland Yard to ensure transparency and credibility in the investigation.
Announcing Monday’s protest procession in Dhaka, Jaber said that Inquilab Mancha had resolved to remain on the streets until those responsible for Hadi’s killing, along with their alleged patrons, are brought to justice. The platform’s statements and actions signal a significant escalation in pressure on the interim administration, adding to an already volatile political environment in Bangladesh.
