Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure associated with the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot last week by masked assailants in Dhaka and later succumbed to his injuries on Thursday while undergoing treatment in Singapore. The attack took place as Hadi was leaving a mosque in the capital, sending shockwaves through the country’s political landscape.
Hadi, who was 32 years old, was a senior leader of the student protest platform Inqilab Mancha and had emerged as one of the most recognisable faces of the July movement. He was also an electoral candidate for the general elections scheduled to be held on February 12. In fact, he had recently begun his election campaign from the Bijoynagar area in central Dhaka, marking his formal entry into the race. According to some media reports, Hadi had also recently released a controversial map depicting a so-called “Greater Bangladesh,” which allegedly included parts of Indian territory, adding to his already polarising political profile.
Following the shooting, Hadi was initially treated in Dhaka, where doctors described his condition as “extremely critical.” Given the severity of his injuries, the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus arranged for him to be flown to Singapore in an air ambulance on Monday for advanced medical care. Despite intensive treatment, Hadi did not survive.
Announcing his death in a televised address to the nation late Thursday night, Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow and described the news as heartbreaking. He referred to Hadi as a fearless frontline leader of the July Uprising and the spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha. Yunus assured the public that those responsible for the killing would be swiftly identified and brought to justice, emphasising that no leniency would be shown to the perpetrators of what he described as a brutal murder.
In the hours following the announcement, hundreds of students and supporters gathered at the Shahbagh intersection near Dhaka University. The crowd raised slogans in Hadi’s memory, including chants of “Who are you, who am I – Hadi, Hadi,” reflecting his strong resonance among sections of the youth and protest movements.
In response to his death, the interim government declared a one-day state mourning across Bangladesh. Hadi’s killing also prompted rare expressions of unity across rival political camps. Both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, traditionally opposed to each other, issued statements mourning his death.
Hadi had risen rapidly to prominence during the July 2024 uprising, positioning himself as a vocal and uncompromising critic of pro-India politics. He frequently attacked the Awami League and also criticised the BNP, warning that any return to what he described as old-style politics would not be sustainable. His hardline positions and activist background made him a divisive yet influential figure in contemporary Bangladeshi politics.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman expressed deep grief over Hadi’s killing, describing it as a stark reminder of the high human cost of political violence. In a statement reported by The Daily Star, Rahman said that safeguarding citizens and preventing such acts of violence was essential to protecting Bangladesh’s democratic aspirations and preventing further destabilisation of the country.
Hadi’s death has not only intensified political tensions but has also underscored the fragile security environment in Bangladesh as the country heads toward crucial national elections.
