When a clock stops, not only does time stop, waiting also comes to a halt. For Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, the clock of Bangladesh’s justice system seems to have stopped right there, at the moment of his murder. Days pass, months pass, years roll by, yet the question remains the same is this standstill deliberate? English statesman William E. Gladstone said, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” The trial of Hadi’s murder, too, is steadily moving toward denial. Even though Hadi was shot dead in broad daylight before the public eye, the fact that his killers have still not been brought to justice proves the paralysis of our government. We live in a state where, as ordinary citizens, we have no security at all. This is perhaps the most visible proof of why the primary dream of most Bangladeshis is to leave Bangladesh.
Sharif Osman bin Hadi was a Bangladeshi politician, cultural activist, writer, and teacher, known as the spokesperson of the political-cultural organization Inqilab Mancha, formed in the post, July mass uprising period. He had announced his intention to contest the thirteenth national parliamentary election as a candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency. Hadi came into the spotlight for his active politics in defense of the rights of the July martyrs, the movement to ban the Awami League, and opposition to Indian hegemony. He emerged as a young man who dared to dream, to question, and to stand against injustice. Amid the dominance, occupation, and power struggles within campus politics, Hadi became an uncomfortable name. There are allegations that he was brutally attacked by certain influential individuals and groups within the sphere of political identity. That attack was planned, organized, and carried out openly. Not only was a young man killed, but his future, his family’s dreams, and society’s trust were also struck.
Hadi is not an isolated incident. We have seen before student killings on campuses, political violence, and public beatings yet justice does not happen, or it takes an unbearably long time. Investigations remain stalled, charge sheets are weakened, witnesses are frightened, and the accused remain safe under political shelter. In Hadi’s case too, the familiar picture emerges ambiguity over arrests, questions about the pace of the case, and an unnatural silence in the judicial process. As a state, ensuring justice for Hadi’s murder should have been the foremost priority; instead, all other big and small state activities continue, except justice for Hadi. Bangladesh’s judicial system is so weak that even after the faces of Osman Hadi’s accused have been shown to the entire world, the authorities still claim they cannot find them.
The root cause of Hadi’s murder is power politics. Such a planned killing was carried out to permanently silence a strong voice like Osman Hadi’s. In Bangladesh’s unhealthy political environment, personalities like Osman Hadi become thorns in everyone’s eyes. This toxic culture gives birth to such murders. There are several important reasons behind the lack of justice in Hadi’s case. First and foremost is political influence and pressure. Because the accused are connected to circles close to those in power, the trial of Hadi’s murder is being delayed. Due to administrative weakness, despite all evidence being in plain sight, there is a lack of impartial investigation. The prevailing culture of fear raises questions about the safety of witnesses and victims. The slow pace of the judicial system has turned into a tactic to prolong cases. Social amnesia is another major reason. As public pressure diminishes over time, the judicial process remains suspended.
To ensure justice for Hadi’s murder, mere mourning is not enough, effective action is required. An impartial investigation must be ensured regardless of political identity. The progress of the case must be regularly disclosed to the public. Full security must be guaranteed for witnesses and plaintiffs. A special tribunal or fast-track court should be formed. Zero tolerance toward violence in student politics must be established. Continuous pressure from civil society and the media must be maintained. Demanding justice is not a crime; rather, the absence of justice is the failure of the state. Because of this failure, people like Hadi fear to raise their heads again and again through the ages.
Justice for the murder of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi is not just about one person it is a question of the security of every future citizen. If Hadi’s murder is not brought to justice, the message is clear if you have power, you can kill and get away with it. This message destroys a state from within. If we cannot demand justice for Hadi today, another name will be added to the list tomorrow. So the question is not only whether Hadi will get justice or not the question is whether we will remain silent and allow this injustice to become normal. When justice is delayed, it ceases to be justice and becomes a document of state indifference.
