Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has been plunged into a fresh wave of violence and unrest following the death of a prominent student leader. Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in last year's student uprising, succumbed to injuries sustained in a targeted shooting, sparking protests and vandalism across the city.
Who Was Sharif Osman Hadi?
Sharif Osman Hadi emerged as a senior leader within the student protest group Inqilab Moncho. He played a frontline role in the July uprising of the previous year, a movement that ultimately contributed to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Born in 1994 in Jhalokhati district, Hadi was known for his radical views and was frequently described in reports as an outspoken critic of India.
The Assassination and Aftermath
The attack occurred on 12 December 2025 in Dhaka's Paltan area. Hadi was campaigning for the upcoming national elections when unidentified gunmen shot him in the head while he was travelling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw on Culvert Road, near a mosque.
He was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later moved to Evercare Hospital. As his condition remained extremely critical, the administration led by Muhammad Yunus arranged for him to be airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment on Saturday.
Despite the efforts of doctors at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and the National Neuroscience Institute, Hadi's injuries proved fatal. The Singapore Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that he succumbed to his injuries on 18 December 2025.
Unrest and Investigation
News of Hadi's death triggered immediate unrest in Bangladesh. Protesters vandalised properties, including the residence of the nation's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The offices of two major media houses, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, were set on fire.
In a surprising move, Hadi's own group, Inqilab Moncho, urged the public to avoid violence. In a late-night Facebook post on Thursday, the group warned that certain elements were trying to destabilize the country ahead of the February elections and called for cooperation with the government to maintain stability.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the assassination attempt has seen developments. The parents of the prime suspect, Faisal Karim Masud, were sent to jail after recording their statements before a Dhaka court. Metropolitan Magistrate Monirul Islam ordered the detention of Humayun Kabir, 70, and his wife Hasi Begum, 60, following the legal procedure.
The situation remains tense in Dhaka as the nation grapples with the political fallout from the killing of a controversial yet influential student leader just months before a pivotal general election.
