Protests in Bangladesh intensified on Sunday after activist platform Inqilab Moncho announced all-out road blockades in all divisional cities, demanding justice for slain leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The agitation, which began in Dhaka, has now spread to several major cities across the country.
According to the group, the blockades were scheduled to begin at 11 am local time. The announcement was made through social media and reiterated from Shahbagh in Dhaka, where protesters have been holding a sit-in since Friday.
On Saturday, supporters of Inqilab Moncho blocked key roads and staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram and Kushtia. In the capital, protesters occupied Shahbagh after Friday prayers and continued their sit-in overnight. They briefly shifted their position on Saturday to allow BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to visit Hadi&rsquo;s grave near Dhaka University before returning to Shahbagh, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.
Addressing protesters at Shahbagh, Inqilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber warned that the movement would escalate if the government failed to act against those responsible for Hadi&rsquo;s killing. He criticised the interim administration for what he described as inaction and absence from the protest site, claiming public confidence in the government was weakening.
Women, children, and people from cultural and professional backgrounds also joined the protests. The gatherings included recitations from the Quran, poetry, and slogans demanding justice.
Sharif Osman Hadi, seen as a key figure of the July mass uprising, founded Inqilab Moncho in August last year and was considered a potential candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming parliamentary elections. On December 12, he was shot while travelling in a rickshaw in Old Paltan, Dhaka. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in Singapore. He was laid to rest near the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.
Hadi&rsquo;s death sparked widespread unrest across Bangladesh, with reports of vandalism and arson, including attacks on media offices in Dhaka. Separately, protests were also reported in parts of India following incidents of mob violence against Hindu individuals in Bangladesh, further adding to regional tensions.
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Inqilab Moncho announces nationwide blockades as agitation spreads

B'desh Protests Escalate Over Sharif Hadi Killing

Inqilab Moncho announces nationwide blockades as agitation spreads

December 28, 2025 | 12:34 IST