The investigation into the targeted killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi has revealed a massive financial conspiracy. While the prime suspect remains a fugitive, Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has traced a complex network of funds totaling Tk 127 crore linked to the assassination.
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Financial Network and Seizures
Investigators have shifted their focus toward a “money trail” they believe funded the planning, execution, and getaway of the attackers. Key findings include:
- Frozen Assets: Nearly Tk 67 lakh has been seized from bank accounts belonging to the prime accused, Faisal Karim Masud.
- Uncashed Cheques: During raids, officials recovered cheque books and uncashed cheques amounting to nearly Tk 200 crore, suggesting high-volume transactions occurred just days before the December 12 shooting.
- Total Scope: The wider financial network connected to Masud is currently estimated at Tk 127 crore.
The Fugitive: Faisal Karim Masud
Despite a nationwide lookout notice and an official travel ban, law enforcement has admitted they are unsure of Masud’s location.
- Border Uncertainty: In a joint press conference on Sunday, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Dhaka Police stated they cannot confirm if Masud has successfully crossed the border into a neighboring country.
- The Attack: Masud is the primary suspect in the December 12 ambush in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area, where two motorcycle-borne assailants shot Hadi in the head at close range.
Political Consequences for the Yunus Government
Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the “anti-India” platform Inquilab Mancha and a key figure in the July uprising, died in a Singapore hospital on December 18. His death has sparked a political crisis for the interim government:
- Mass Protests: Demonstrators at Shahbagh intersection have demanded immediate justice, viewing the killing as an attack on the spirit of the revolution.
- Ultimatum and Threats: Inquilab Mancha issued a 24-hour ultimatum for arrests during Hadi’s funeral. Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber warned that because the deadline passed without results, the group may launch a mass movement to oust the Muhammad Yunus-led administration.
- Fragile Support: The platform is currently reassessing its support for the interim government, citing a lack of “visible steps” by the Home Ministry.
Time line of Events
- Dec 12: Hadi is shot in Bijoynagar while traveling in a rickshaw.
- Dec 18: Hadi dies of brain stem damage after being airlifted to Singapore.
- Dec 21: Authorities reveal the Tk 127 crore financial trail.
- Dec 22: Protests escalate as the 24-hour ultimatum for arrests expires.
