The killing of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi was driven by political vengeance, said Md Shafiqul Islam, Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Detective Branch (DB), on Tuesday.

Former Dhaka North City Corporation ward councillor and Jubo League leader Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi had ordered Hadi’s killing, he told a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre.

“Hadi had initiated a different political discourse and made strong critical statements about past activities of the Awami League and its banned student wing, Chhatra League, which angered AL and BCL leaders and activists,” Shafiqul said.

Fugitive Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Rahul or Daud Khan, who was involved in Chhatra League politics, shot and injured Hadi, the DB chief added.

He said Faisal and his associate Alamgir Hossain were later aided in their escape by Bappi.

Shafiqul Islam also said that a chargesheet naming 17 people has been submitted at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Of the accused, 12 are currently behind bars, while five, including prime accused shooter Faisal and motorcycle rider Alamgir, remain at large. Efforts to arrest the fugitives are ongoing.

Osman Hadi, a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Purana Paltan. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment but succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18.

He was laid to rest on December 20 beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.

On December 28, Inqilab Moncho announced a four-point demand seeking justice for Hadi.

The group demanded that all involved, including the perpetrator, planner, aides, those who helped in the escape and those who provided shelter—be brought to justice within 24 days.

RAB intensifies hunt for prime suspects in Hadi murder case

They also called for the cancellation of work permits of all Indian nationals residing in Bangladesh, and if India refuses to repatriate accused murderers taking refuge there, a case should be filed at the International Court of Justice.

The group further demanded that alleged ‘fascist accomplices’ within the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.

On Tuesday, Inqilab Moncho began its ‘March for Justice’ from Shahbagh, pressing for accountability in Hadi’s killing and the fulfilment of its four-point demand.