Bangladesh police have made a significant arrest, detaining Himon Rahman Shikdar, an associate implicated in the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Shikdar, reportedly an activist with the Adabar Thana Jubo League, was taken into custody on Wednesday from a hotel in the Adabar district. Officials revealed that Shikdar and his associates were allegedly preparing for ‘subversive activities,’ prompting a focused police operation to apprehend others involved.
The police operation also yielded a significant haul of weapons and explosives, including a foreign firearm, live ammunition, gunpowder, and various other items. This discovery points to a well-equipped group and raises concerns about their intended actions. The death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old political activist and co-founder of Inqilab Moncho, has been a focal point of the ongoing unrest. Hadi was shot during election campaigning and later died from his wounds. His activism, particularly in opposition to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, made him a prominent and controversial figure.
Hadi’s assassination has ignited widespread protests and a climate of instability throughout Bangladesh. The public has expressed outrage, with some supporters accusing the interim government of failing to provide adequate security and alleging that the assassins have fled to India. International attention has also been drawn to the situation, with India calling for a comprehensive investigation into the murder. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has publicly refuted ‘false narratives’ circulating after Hadi’s death and has urged for a transparent and evidence-based inquiry by the interim government.