The Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka has once again been brought to a standstill as Inqilab Moncho activists resumed their blockade on Saturday afternoon.1 The protest had been briefly paused to allow passage for BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who visited the area to pay respects at the grave of the platform's slain convenor, Sharif Osman bin Hadi.
At approximately 12:30 PM, protesters marched from the Bangladesh Medical University area to reoccupy the Shahbagh junction. The group had earlier shifted their sit-in to the front of Aziz Super Market to ensure a smooth route for Tarique Rahman’s motorcade during his visit to the Dhaka University campus.
Activists have been occupying the square since Friday, even staying overnight in the winter cold. The blockade was only briefly lifted at 9:00 AM on Saturday before being reinstated following the BNP leader's departure.
The protest stems from the death of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, a prominent organizer and independent election hopeful. Hadi was shot on December 12 while campaigning in the Bijoynagar area for the Dhaka-8 constituency.
After receiving treatment in Dhaka and later being flown to Singapore, he succumbed to his injuries on December 18. Hadi was buried with significant honors next to National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam following a funeral prayer at Parliament’s South Plaza.
The Member Secretary of Inqilab Moncho, Abdullah Al Jaber, reiterated that the blockade will continue indefinitely until the perpetrators responsible for the shooting are arrested and prosecuted. The ongoing sit-in at "Shaheed Hadi Chattar" has caused severe traffic disruptions in one of the capital's most critical medical and educational zones.
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