Police on Friday, February 6, fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse activists of Inqilab Mancha during their blockade programme at Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka protesting the 'police attack' on them earlier today. Around 5:15 pm, leaders, activists and supporters of Inqilab Mancha brought out a procession from the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus and gathered at Shahbagh intersection. Later, they blocked the road and began protesting. At about 7:30 pm, protesters chased a group of police personnel from Shahbagh towards Hotel InterContinental. Police later launched a counter-chase and used tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters. Witnesses said sounds of around 20 sound grenades were heard during the incident.
Earlier in the afternoon, a procession led by Inqilab Mancha, demanding justice for the killing of its convener Sharif Osman Hadi, marched towards the Jamuna area.The organisation alleged that police obstructed the march and carried out an attack using tear gas, sound grenades and water cannons.
During the clashes, several Inqilab Mancha leaders and activists, including Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, were injured. The injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The organisation also claimed that DUCSU leader Fatima Tasnim Zuma and JnUCSU leader Shanta Akter were among those injured.
However, according to doctors on duty at the emergency department of DMCH, a total of 76 people, including Abdullah Al Jaber, received medical treatment following the incident.
The doctors confirmed that none of the injured sustained gunshot wounds.
Earlier on Thursday, February 5, Inqilab Mancha staged a sit-in outside the Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna, demanding an impartial investigation under United Nations supervision into Hadi killing.
The protest began around 5:00 pm yesterday with Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, Fatima Tasnim Zuma, Hadi’s wife, and a small number of activists participating in the programme.
Sharif Osman bin Hadi, a prominent figure of the July Mass Uprising 2024, was shot in the head on December 12 last year while travelling on a rickshaw on Culvert Road in the capital's Bijoynagar area after Jumma prayers.acc
He initially underwent surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital.
For advanced treatment, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18.
Following the incident, Jaber filed a case of attempted murder with Paltan police station on December 14, which was later converted into a murder case. Source: UNB