Bangladesh unrest: Section within Yunus government got activist Hadi killed, says his brother

DHAKA: Slain anti-India activist Sharif Osman Hadi’s brother Omar has accused a section within the Muhammad Yunus-led interim Bangladesh govt of orchestrating the killing to derail the Feb 12 national election and warned of a Sheikh Hasina-like fate if Osman’s attackers are not tried quickly.“It is you who had Osman Hadi killed, and now you are trying to foil the election by using this as an issue,” Omar said. “You too will be compelled to flee Bangladesh one day if justice for Osman is not served. He always wanted the election to be held in Feb,” Omar said during a programme organised by Osman’s party Inqilab Moncho in Dhaka Tuesday.Ensure the trial of the killers quickly so that the election environment is not hindered, said Omar as he accused the govt of failing to present any visible progress before the people.Zia’s son was first to link Hadi’s killing to ‘conspiracy’Inqilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber reiterated the ultimatum of 30 working days given to the govt to identify and arrest the attackers. Till recently, a large section in Bangladesh pinned the blame for the assassination of Osman on New Delhi, leading to large-scale anti-India protests outside Indian high commission in Dhaka, and its assistant high commissions in Khulna, Rajshahi and Chittagong, where a stone-pelting mob precariously came close to the diplomat’s residence despite presence of Bangladeshi security personnel.Omar’s remarks are significant also because of the efforts the Yunus-led interim administration to align itself with his supporters. The govt flew the Islamic hardliner to Singapore for treatment for a critical gunshot injury to the head, arranged for a massive memorial service following his death on Dec 18 and allocated a grave beside the mausoleum of Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.It was former PM Khaleda Zia’s son and BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman who had first linked the Osman’s killing to a “conspiracy to get the poll postponed”. As it happens, Tarique, who has been living in exile in the UK for over 17 years, is scheduled to reach Dhaka on Thursday.