The government has announced a one-day state mourning on Saturday, December 20, following the death of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha. The announcement was made by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during his address to the nation on Thursday night.
At the beginning of his address, Professor Yunus prayed for the forgiveness of the departed soul of Osman Hadi and expressed deep sorrow over his death. He described Hadi as an immortal soldier in the struggle against fascism and hegemony, stating that he prayed to Almighty Allah to accept him as a martyr. The Chief Adviser said Hadi’s untimely death was a profound loss for the country’s political and democratic landscape and conveyed his heartfelt condolences.
Announcing the state mourning, Professor Yunus said that Saturday would be observed as a day of national mourning in memory of Shahid Osman Hadi. On the occasion, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions, educational institutions, as well as public and private buildings across the country. The national flag will also be flown at half-mast at Bangladesh missions abroad.
He further stated that special prayers and supplications will be offered after Juma prayers on Friday, December 19, at all mosques across the country, seeking forgiveness for the departed soul of Osman Hadi. Special prayers will also be held at places of worship of other religions.
Earlier on Thursday night, a message published on Osman Hadi’s verified Facebook page stated that the great revolutionary Osman Hadi had been accepted as a martyr by Allah while confronting Indian hegemony. Inqilab Mancha also confirmed his death through a post on its official Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Dr Md Abdul Ahad, a neurosurgeon at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and member secretary of the National Health Alliance, confirmed Hadi’s death in a video message. In the video, he said that Allah had accepted Sharif Osman Hadi, a powerful voice of the July uprising, as a martyr. He stated that confirmation had been received from Singapore General Hospital that Hadi had passed away. Dr Ahad called on all forces aligned with the uprising to stand by the country and urged everyone to support Hadi’s family during this difficult time.
Osman Hadi was shot by assailants on Friday, December 12, a day after the announcement of the national election schedule. The attack took place on Box Culvert Road in the capital’s Puranapaltan area, where he was targeted while sitting in a rickshaw by miscreants who opened fire from a moving motorcycle. At the time, he was campaigning as an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency.
