BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has blamed the government for the wave of “mob violence” that followed the death of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.

In a post on his verified Facebook page early Friday, Mirza Fakhrul called on people from all quarters to act responsibly and remain united.

In the post, he wrote, “Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country. Ensuring the safety of life and property of every citizen is the responsibility of the current government. While the grief-stricken nation was praying for the forgiveness of martyr Hadi’s soul, despicable attacks were carried out on institutions including The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and on eminent journalist Nurul Kabir, among others. I strongly condemn this violence. The government must take full responsibility for these incidents. The killers of Hadi must be brought to justice, and every act of mob violence must be tried.”

He further said that mob violence over the past year or more has deeply divided the nation. “Following the fall of the authoritarian Awami League government, the government’s foremost responsibility is to unite the nation and build a democratic, stable, and inclusive society. We urge all parties to work together responsibly. The government must take immediate action,” he added.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, who was injured in a shooting by assailants, died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday. After news of his death spread, a section of protesters attacked and vandalised the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar on Thursday night. They later moved to Farmgate, where they vandalised and set fire to The Daily Star building.