BNP leader demands apology for offensive remarks about Osman Hadi

BNP's self-reliance secretary and former MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni has come under fire for her remarks about Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot dead by an assailant, calling him a 'guinea pig'. Leaders of various political and civic organizations have called her remarks disrespectful on social media and demanded a public apology.

On Tuesday (December 23) night, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, participating in the special dialogue program 'Leaving does not mean leaving' organized by Channel Nine hosted by Abdun Noor Tushar, said, 'Hadi seems to me nothing more than an important guinea pig at this moment.' Her comments created controversy during the program.

At that time, host Abdun Noor Tushar requested the panelists not to make any offensive statements about Osman Hadi. Later, in response to a question, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni claimed that some quarters have tried to achieve political objectives by using Osman Hadi and that the matter may involve an attempt to sabotage the election.

However, Advocate Humaira Noor, Joint Member Secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP), immediately protested Moni's statement. She said that Osman Hadi was not the leader of any registered political party and Inqilab Manch is not a political party; it is a social organization. He played a vocal role against corruption, malfeasance and anti-democratic activities in the society.

Humaira Noor also said that it is very painful to question the presence of people at Osman Hadi's funeral. The people who attended the funeral did not attend the call of any political party, but to pay respect to a person.

NDM Chairman Bobby Hajjaj, Jamaat-e-Islami's Dhaka Metropolitan South Assistant Secretary Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Electoral Reforms Commission member Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman and CPB Central Committee Member Dr. Sajedul Haque Rubel.

Meanwhile, condemning Moni's statement, NCP Joint Member Secretary Joynal Abedin Shishir wrote on Facebook that such comments about Shaheed Osman Hadi are disrespectful and demanded that they be withdrawn immediately and apologize publicly.

United People's Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh) convener Ali Ahsan Junaid also reacted on social media, saying that such statements from a responsible political leader are unacceptable. At the same time, he called for BNP to clarify its position on the issue.

In addition, leaders of various political and civic organizations, including AUP Bangladesh Chief Coordinator Rafe Salman Rifat, have strongly criticized Nilufar Chowdhury Moni's statement on social media.