The National Citizen Party (NCP) staged an overnight protest march in the capital, demanding the resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser. The programme was organised in protest against the attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha and an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency. The protest march began on Friday (12 December) after 8:30 pm from in front of Rupayan Trade Centre at Banglamotor and proceeded through different streets of the capital before concluding with a protest rally at Shahbagh.
During the march, leaders and activists of the NCP strongly condemned the attack on Sharif Osman Hadi and held the current Home Affairs Adviser responsible for the incident. They alleged that the country’s law and order situation had deteriorated significantly and that such an environment was allowing attacks to take place openly. According to the protesters, the inability of the Home Affairs Adviser to maintain law and order has emboldened criminals and hostile groups, enabling them to carry out violent activities without fear. Throughout the procession, participants chanted various slogans demanding the immediate resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser.
Addressing the gathering, Tariqul Islam, convener of the NCP’s youth wing National Youth Power, said that the party was demanding the resignation of what he described as an incompetent and failed Home Affairs Adviser. He stated that the adviser must step down immediately and relinquish his responsibilities. Tariqul Islam remarked that there was no scope to avoid accountability through sweet or misleading statements. He further said that after failing to fulfil his duties, the adviser must explain to the people on what qualifications and moral grounds he continued to hold the position of Home Affairs Adviser.
Senior joint convener of the NCP, Ariful Islam Adib, said in his speech that accomplices and supporters of the Awami League were still active within the country’s administration, media, business sector and universities. He alleged that these groups were deliberately creating conditions that encouraged attacks and fostered an environment conducive to the killing of leaders like Sharif Osman Hadi. Ariful Islam Adib also stated that if any such attempt at killing occurs in the future, the properties of Awami League leaders and activists should be nationally confiscated.
NCP joint member secretary Arif Sohel said that the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi clearly demonstrated that enemies of July, enemies of reform and enemies of justice were still active in Bangladesh. He alleged that efforts were once again underway to create a One-Eleven type situation in the country. In this context, he called upon all anti-hegemonic forces to remain united and vigilant in order to resist such attempts.
The protest march and rally were attended by NCP joint chief coordinator Khan Muhammad Mursalin, president of National Student Power Zahid Ahsan, member secretary of National Youth Power Dr Zahidul Islam, member secretary of National Labour Power Rijaz Morshed, as well as leaders and activists from different levels of the party. All of them reiterated their united position, demanding proper justice for the attack on Sharif Osman Hadi and the resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser.