The Inquilab Moncho vacated Shahbagh on Saturday after delivering a 24-hour ultimatum to Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, restoring normal traffic in one of Dhaka’s busiest intersections.
The demonstration had erupted following the funeral of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, with protesters demanding justice for his killing. Tensions in Shahbagh escalated sharply from 4 p.m. on 20 December, as demonstrators filled the square chanting slogans in unison, including the repetitive cry of “Hadi, Hadi”, echoing across the area.
The gathering began after Hadi’s funeral at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, effectively halting all vehicular movement through Shahbagh for several hours. Protesters voiced slogans such as:
“Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar”
“Delhi na Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka”
“We will all be Hadi, we will speak even under bullets”
“Break the stronghold of Bakshal, crush it utterly”
“Stop your treachery, your skin will pay”
Demonstrators also performed the Asr prayer on the roadway, intertwining religious observance with their protest.
At approximately 5:15 p.m., Abdullah Al Zaber, Secretary of the Inquilab Moncho, delivered the assembly’s concluding statement, highlighting two primary demands:
Immediate Accountability: Chowdhury and Baksh must appear before the public within 24 hours to report on the progress of investigations over the past week. Failing to provide satisfactory answers would trigger calls for their resignation.
Action Against Armed Elements: Authorities must identify and arrest Awami League-linked operatives embedded within civil and military intelligence agencies, described as acting with impunity.
Addressing the crowd, Zaber emphasised that the moncho would remain vigilant at Shahbagh but permitted demonstrators to return home for the evening. He warned that if no government response was received by tomorrow at 5:15 p.m., the protest would resume with greater intensity, asserting that leniency would no longer be extended.
The demonstration underscores ongoing public frustration over unresolved grievances and highlights the tension between civil society movements and state authorities in Bangladesh’s capital.
Key Details:
| Date | Event | Key Figures | Demands / Actions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec | Shahbagh protest begins | Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi (funeral), protesters | Justice for Hadi, slogans, Asr prayer | Shahbagh, Dhaka |
| 20 Dec | Ultimatum issued | Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Khoda Baksh Chowdhury | Present progress in 24 hours or resign | Shahbagh, Dhaka |
| 20 Dec | Concluding statement | Abdullah Al Zaber (Inquilab Moncho Secretary) | Arrest Awami League-linked operatives, moncho alert | Shahbagh, Dhaka |