Fear in Shaheed Hadi's voice too? Government removes 'rebel' video 7 days after his death

A video of the 'rebel' poem recited by anti-Indian hegemony revolutionary Shaheed Osman bin Hadi has been removed from the verified Facebook page of the interim government's chief advisor. The removal of the video just seven days after Shaheed Osman Hadi's martyrdom has sparked strong reactions and new debates on social media.

The video has been unavailable on the chief advisor's page since Wednesday night. After the matter came to light, anger and questions spread among various Facebook pages, activists and supporters related to the July Movement.

On Thursday, a Facebook page named July Unity posted,
“This video of anti-Indian hegemony revolutionary Shaheed Osman Hadi’s ‘rebel’ poetry recitation was removed from the Chief Advisor’s page—at whose behest? We can make an interim as well as we know how to remove it with a stick.”

In addition, another page named Tales of July also raised the question—“Why was the video of Shaheed Osman Hadi’s ‘rebel’ poetry recitation removed from the Chief Advisor’s page?”

No official explanation has been given by the interim government or the Chief Advisor’s office so far regarding the decision and reason for the removal of the video. As a result, speculation, suspicion and criticism surrounding the matter are becoming stronger day by day.

It is worth noting that on the afternoon of December 12, Sharif Osman bin Hadi was seriously injured in a gunfight with Awami League terrorists on Box Culvert Road in Purana Paltan, Dhaka. It is alleged that India was behind the attack. He was the convener of the Inqilab Manch and a potential independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency.

He was first treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later at Evercare Hospital. When his condition deteriorated, he was taken to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15. He died on Thursday, December 18, while undergoing treatment there.

The funeral of Shaheed Osman bin Hadi was attended by an unprecedented number of people in the history of Bangladesh, which is a clear reflection of his popularity and political influence, political analysts believe.

According to them, removing the video of a symbolic poem recited by Shaheed Hadi at such a sensitive time could further increase the distance between the government and the movement supporters. It is also feared that the debate could intensify if the government does not take a clear position on this issue.