Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice-President Shadik Kayem on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government, demanding visible improvement in law and order and warning that failure to act would prompt calls for the resignation of the advisers for home affairs, law and foreign affairs.

The ultimatum was announced after a meeting between Shadik Kayem and Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the Secretariat. A 14-member delegation led by Kayem attended the meeting.

Briefing journalists afterwards, with the home affairs adviser standing beside him, Kayem presented three key demands, centred on the recent shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Moncho and a prospective independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency.

In his first demand, Kayem called for the immediate arrest of all those directly involved in the attack on Hadi, including the gunmen, planners and anyone who assisted them. He also demanded accountability from intelligence agencies and other state bodies, saying that any officials found negligent must be brought to justice. 

Besides, he urged a complete social boycott of what he described as “cultural fascists” who, he alleged, had legitimised violence against Hadi and July movement activists.

The second demand called for area-based “combing operations” against the banned Awami League within the next 48 hours. Kayem said all members of the outlawed organisation involved in criminal activities must be arrested and illegal weapons recovered, warning that any further government inaction would not be tolerated.

In his third demand, Kayem said that, as a first step against what he termed Indian “hegemony”, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina must be brought back to Bangladesh and the verdict against her for crimes against humanity enforced. He also called for a review of diplomatic relations with India, stating that normal relations should not resume until accused individuals are returned.

Issuing a clear warning, Kayem said: “If there is no visible progress on these demands within 48 hours, then Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam, along with the law and foreign affairs advisers, must resign.”

He further announced that if the demands were not met, a mass movement “stronger than July” would be launched, vowing to continue the struggle to give what he described as the July uprising its “complete form”.

Calling for national unity against fascism, Kayem said efforts were under way to engage student organisations, including Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, left-wing and Islamic groups. 

He also instructed the formation of “people’s committees” in every neighbourhood and ward to ensure public safety and assist in maintaining law and order by identifying criminals and handing them over to police. He claimed the Ministry of Home Affairs would cooperate with these committees.

Kayem also strongly criticised the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for describing the attack on Hadi as an “isolated incident”, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the statement and a public apology. 

He further warned lawyers whom he accused of accepting money to secure bail or case withdrawals for “fallen fascists”, saying that those who defend alleged perpetrators of killings would be publicly named and socially boycotted.

The attack on Sharif Osman Hadi took place on 12 December on Box Culvert Road in the capital’s Purana Paltan area, when two assailants on a motorcycle shot him in the head while he was travelling in a rickshaw. He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Evercare Hospital.

On Monday at around 1:55pm, Hadi was flown to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced medical treatment.