Bangladesh has been engulfed in violent unrest since Thursday night following the death of radical anti-India activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore. Protesters have set fire to prominent media offices, cultural centres, and even the residence of former President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Amid the chaos, a Hindu man was reportedly lynched over blasphemy allegations, drawing condemnation from the Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladeshi government.
Here’s what Sharif Osman Hadi’s shooter told his girlfriend
Media reports indicate that the night before the attack, Hadi’s alleged shooter Faisal Karim told his girlfriend at a resort outside Dhaka that something would happen to “shake entire Bangladesh.” Hours later, Karim and two accomplices shot Hadi in broad daylight in Dhaka. Hadi was rushed to a hospital, remained in critical condition for several days, and was later airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries.
National elections to be held in February 2026
Hadi’s death has plunged Bangladesh into further turmoil as the country prepares for its first national elections since a violent uprising ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Osman Hadi, an anti-India leader and spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha group, was also an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency. The parliamentary elections are scheduled for February 2026.
Tense Dhaka awaits burial of Osman Hadi
An uneasy calm hangs over Dhaka as the city prepares for the burial of slain Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. On December 15, he was airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment, where he later died. Following his death, waves of protests erupted across the capital, with activists demanding justice for Hadi. As his body returned to Dhaka, tensions remained high. While Inqilab Moncho has urged its members to maintain peace during the funeral procession on Saturday, the city continues to experience a tense atmosphere.
