Nearly five decades after Bangladesh’s iconic rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was laid to rest beside the Dhaka University mosque in 1976, anti-India radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi has now been buried next to the national poet, a decision that has sparked intense political and cultural debate across the country. On Saturday, Dhaka witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of people as Hadi was laid to rest. Lakhs of supporters poured into the capital, with thousands travelling from surrounding towns and districts, bringing large parts of the city to a standstill for his funeral.
For many Bangladeshis, the scene felt deeply surreal. Hadi’s grave now lies beside that of Nazrul Islam, revered as the “Bidrohi Kobi” or rebel poet of Bengal. Supporters of Hadi have drawn symbolic parallels between the two figures, pointing to how Hadi frequently recited Nazrul’s revolutionary verses during rallies and protests. Viral social media videos and short clips have shown Hadi invoking Nazrul’s poetry as a tool of political mobilisation, with student leaders of what they call a “new Bangladesh” portraying him as a modern-day revolutionary, or “biplobi”.
One of the most frequently cited examples is Hadi’s recitation of Nazrul’s famous poem “Bidrohi”, originally written as a defiant response to British colonial rule. Hadi often used the poem’s fiery imagery to energise crowds during his anti-Sheikh Hasina protests, presenting himself as a fearless challenger to authority. Now, following his death, critics argue that he has been deliberately positioned as a symbolic heir to Nazrul’s legacy, a move they say blurs the line between history, politics and manufactured martyrdom.
Sharif Osman Hadi was the spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, an anti-Hasina political platform that emerged during the July–August 2024 agitation which eventually led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. At just 32, Hadi had become a prominent and polarising figure in national politics. He was known for his sharp criticism of India’s role in Bangladesh and for his relentless attacks on the Awami League. At the time of his death, he was contesting the upcoming February 2026 general election as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency.
Hadi was shot by unidentified gunmen on December 12, a day before Bangladesh’s Election Commission announced the date of the first general election since Hasina’s ouster. He was attacked while travelling in a battery-operated rickshaw. Reports later revealed that the alleged shooter, Faisal Karim, had told his girlfriend the night before that something was about to happen that would “shake the entire country”. Hadi later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Singapore.
His death triggered widespread unrest. Hundreds of supporters flooded the streets of Dhaka, and protests soon spiralled into chaos. Islamist elements allegedly infiltrated the crowds, leading to vandalism, arson and attacks on cultural institutions. The remnants of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house were targeted again, Indian diplomatic missions across multiple cities came under attack, and anti-India slogans echoed through the streets. Even media houses such as The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, which had been critical of both the Hasina government and the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, were attacked and set on fire.
The violence unfolded at a particularly sensitive moment, just months before national elections, under the watch of the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus, which is widely seen as being backed by Islamist forces. On Saturday, as Hadi’s funeral took place, slogans against Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League and the Chhatra League rang out across Dhaka, while security forces remained on high alert.
Muhammad Yunus himself attended Hadi’s namaj-e-janaza. In an emotional address before the funeral prayers at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh’s Parliament complex, Yunus said that Hadi would live on in the hearts of the people. He described the slain leader as a fearless fighter and said that as long as Bangladesh existed, Hadi’s memory would endure.
Given the volatile atmosphere, security was tightened significantly. Police, Rapid Action Battalion personnel, Ansar members and army units were deployed in large numbers around the funeral site to prevent further violence. Bangladeshi media reported that law enforcement agencies were on maximum alert throughout the day.
Following the funeral prayers, preparations began for Hadi’s burial at the Dhaka University campus, beside the grave of Kazi Nazrul Islam. Dhaka University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed shortly after midnight on Friday that the decision had been taken during an emergency online meeting of the university’s syndicate. According to university officials, two formal applications were received — one from the Cabinet Division, which functions under the office of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, and another from the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
The administration inspected available vacant spaces near Nazrul’s mausoleum and prepared a note before granting approval. DUCSU is currently led by Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Meanwhile, Inqilab Mancha claimed that burying Hadi beside Nazrul Islam was the wish of Hadi’s family, stating that the decision reflected their desire rather than political pressure.
Despite these explanations, the move has triggered a sharp public debate. Supporters argue that Hadi’s burial alongside the national poet symbolises his role as a revolutionary figure who challenged perceived oppression and hegemony. Critics, however, say the comparison is deeply problematic. Many have pointed out that Kazi Nazrul Islam stood for secularism, inclusivity and tolerance, while Hadi is widely associated with extremism and identity-driven politics.
Social media platforms in Bangladesh have been flooded with opposing views. Some have described the burial as a politically motivated attempt to rewrite history and elevate a controversial figure to the status of a national icon. Others have hailed it as a divine honour and a fitting tribute to what they see as a martyr of anti-hegemony politics.
Sharif Osman Hadi was born in 1993 in Jhalokathi district and later moved to Dhaka, where his political journey began during his time at Dhaka University. His rise from student activism to national prominence reflects the deep political churn Bangladesh is currently experiencing in the post-Hasina era. The massive turnout at his funeral underscores his popularity among sections of the population, even as others question the legacy being constructed around him.
Decades after Nazrul Islam was buried near the campus mosque in accordance with his own wishes, the same space has now become Hadi’s final resting place. As Bangladesh grapples with questions of identity, history and political direction, the decision to bury Hadi beside the national poet has become a powerful and contentious symbol — one that continues to fuel debate over who deserves to be remembered, and how legacies are shaped in times of upheaval.
