Hadi being flown to S'pore today for better treatment

Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi will be taken to Singapore in an air ambulance this afternoon (Monday).

This was decided in an emergency call conference between Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor on Health Ministry Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, Evercare Hospital specialist Dr Zafar, and Hadi's brother Omar Bin Hadi on Sunday, as per the instructions of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

However, law enforcement agencies have detained six individuals in connection with the attempted murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.

They are Sibion Dio, Sanjay Chisim, Abdul Hannan, Samia, Shipu, and Maria.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre in the capital on Sunday, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Md Nazrul Islam said Sibion Dio and Sanjay Chisim had been held on Sunday during an operation in Sherpur's Nalitabari upazila for their alleged involvement in illegally facilitating cross-border movement.

After being detained, they were brought to Dhaka, he said.

He also said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) had detained Abdul Hannan on suspicion of being the owner of the motorcycle used in the attack on Hadi.

Hannan, 43, was handed over to Paltan Police Station by RAB, said the DMP official.

RAB also detained suspect Faisal Karim Masud's wife Samia, his brother-in-law Shipu, and friend Maria.

Samia and Shipu were detained in Narayanganj on Sunday, while Maria was held in Dhaka. They were later handed over to Paltan Police Station, said RAB Director (Law and Media Wing) Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury.

DMP's Nazrul said suspects Masud and Md Alamgir Sheikh had already been identified.

"Wearing helmets, the duo shot Hadi at close range. Raids are underway in various locations to arrest them," he said.

He also said to prevent the two suspects from fleeing the country, their passports had been seized and blocked.

Additional security measures had been imposed along the border, he said.

The government had announced a reward of Tk 5 million for information leading to the arrest of the fugitives, Nazrul said.

Meanwhile, the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) has frozen the bank accounts of suspect Masud, the owner of Apple Soft IT Limited.

Tax intelligence officials said bank accounts of Masud's immediate family members, including his wife and parents, had also been brought under scrutiny to examine the sources and flow of funds.

The CIC, operating under the National Board of Revenue (NBR), has instructed commercial banks to freeze the accounts to prevent any potential transfer or concealment of funds while the investigation is underway.

It said Masud was found to have been a member of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).

A BASIS member told The Financial Express Masud had held membership between 2020 and December 31, 2022.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said Masud's IT company may no longer be operational as BASIS membership was generally required to secure work orders and purchase IT equipment.

"A BASIS team usually conducts physical inspections and scrutinises documents before awarding membership," he added.

On Sunday, Hadi's condition remained unchanged.

He was undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital Dhaka.

Inqilab Mancha in a statement on Sunday said Hadi was not yet out of danger.

Physicians had advised a 72-hour observation period, which is due to end tonight.

Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Mancha, said on Sunday that if Hadi's condition improved, he would be flown abroad for advanced treatment.

"Hadi remains in a deep coma, in the same condition as before. There has been no significant improvement in his condition, but there is some internal response," he said.

He further said Hadi's family and Inqilab Mancha were preparing to take him abroad for treatment, but the decision would depend on his physical condition.

"Hadi will be taken abroad as soon as his condition improves enough to allow it," he said.

Many people thronged the hospital on Sunday to enquire about the condition of both BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Hadi.

Among them were Inqilab Mancha supporters, who described Hadi as a man of protest.

They said those not tolerating good for the country were trying to kill him and also blamed the Awami League for the shooting.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) imposed the highest level of security alert along the Chapainawabganj border to prevent the suspects from fleeing to India.

Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, commander of BGB-53 battalion in Chapainawabganj, said stringent security measures were enforced immediately after the incident.

"In addition to regular patrols, 19 extra patrol teams have been deployed, and two additional checkpoints have been set up," he added.

Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, commander of BGB-59 battalion, said 20 additional patrol teams were operating alongside routine patrols.

"Checkpoints have been established at key points, including three road intersections under each border outpost (BOP). Motorcycles and other vehicles are being searched," he added.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com