Hadi murder chargesheet on Jan 7, says home advisor

Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said the final chargesheet in the murder case of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi will be submitted on Jan 7.

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Advisory Council on law and order at the Secretariat on Monday.

So far, 11 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, he said, adding that the interim government was treating the case with utmost importance.

Referring to the decision to place the case under a speedy trial tribunal, Jahangir said justice would be ensured during the tenure of the interim government.

“Law-enforcing agencies have also been instructed to take appropriate and effective measures so that such incidents do not recur in the future,” he said.

Hadi was shot by assailants on Dec 12 in the capital’s Bijoynagar area. He later died on Dec 18 while undergoing treatment in Singapore.

The case filed over the incident is currently being investigated by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch.

Speaking about the law and order situation ahead of the upcoming national election, the home advisor said all forces had been directed to work in a more coordinated and proactive manner at the field level to maintain stability during the election period.

Seeking cooperation from all, he said the interim government was firm in holding the election on time.

“Those who try to sabotage the election will fail. Law enforcing agencies will take stricter action in this regard,” he said.

Jahangir also said members of law-enforcing agencies would be able to enter any place, including polling stations, at any time to prevent attempts to disrupt the election or deteriorate the law and order situation.

He reiterated the government’s strong position against road blockades in the name of movements that cause public suffering.

The home advisor further said the government remained committed to maintaining communal harmony across the country.

“The meeting discussed in detail the prevention of rumours and propaganda spread through social media and the need to avoid provocative statements,” he said.

He added that extensive discussions were also held on strengthening security along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, increasing surveillance to curb smuggling, drugs and other crimes, and maintaining peace in the hill tracts.

“Regular patrols and special operations have already been strengthened in the border and hilly areas,” he said.

The meeting also decided to strengthen security at important and sensitive economic and telecommunications installations, increase research and surveillance to curb cybercrime, and enhance monitoring to prevent anti-state conspiracies and propaganda at home and abroad, the home advisor said.