Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha and a frontline fighter of the July Movement, embraced martyrdom yesterday, 18 December, while undergoing medical treatment in Singapore. His martyrdom has created an atmosphere of mourning, anger, and protest across the country.

In a statement issued today, 19 December, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, said, “Patriotic people from all walks of life are praying to Almighty Allah, Rabbul Alamin, seeking the forgiveness of his soul, while at the same time expressing deep anger over the failure to ensure the security of his life.”

Expressing deep concern over the incident, he further said, “The anger and emotions that have arisen among the country’s students and the general public after the martyrdom of Shaheed Osman Hadi are justified and understandable. However, if any quarter tries to exploit this anger to serve its own interests, it can never be accepted. We are clearly apprehensive that such activities may be a planned attempt to divert the movement in a different direction.”

In the statement, he further said, “The media is the fourth pillar of the state and one of the primary means of expressing the voice of the people. We must remember that an attack on the media is an attack on democratic practice, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.”

The Jamaat Ameer said, “Any just movement should be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner; otherwise, achieving the main objective may fail.”

He said, “We demand that those involved in the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi be quickly identified, brought under the law, and given exemplary punishment.”

He further said that in this critical time for the country, restraint, responsibility, and national unity are the only way forward. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami believes that only by establishing a democratic, peaceful, and inclusive political environment, the sacrifices of the martyrs will be duly honored. “We call upon all patriotic students, the general public, and citizens to face the situation with patience, awareness, and responsibility.”