Dhaka – Bangladesh marked a national day of mourning on Saturday, December 20, 2025, as tens of thousands of mourners gathered in the capital for the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent 32-year-old youth leader and spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha platform. Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was laid to rest beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at the Dhaka University Central Mosque, symbolizing his inspirational role in the pro-democracy movement.
The funeral prayers (janaza) were held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building on Manik Mia Avenue under extraordinarily tight security, with police, Rapid Action Battalion, and army units deployed extensively. Body-worn cameras were used by officers, drones were banned in the area, and major roads were restricted to manage the massive crowds. Mourners, many draped in national flags, chanted slogans such as “We will not let Hadi’s blood go in vain” and carried posters demanding justice.
Interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, attended the funeral alongside army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, advisory council members, and representatives from various political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP). Diplomats and high-profile figures also joined.
In an emotional speech before the prayers, Yunus paid tribute to Hadi: “O dear Osman Hadi, we have not come here to bid you farewell. You are within our hearts, and as long as Bangladesh exists, you will remain in the hearts of all Bangladeshis.” He added that Hadi taught the nation how to conduct elections and connect with people humbly, vowing that generations would fulfill Hadi's ideals. Yunus described the gathering as a pledge to uphold Hadi's legacy of conviction and commitment.
Hadi had announced plans to contest as an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming February 2026 parliamentary elections. His prominence stemmed from his role in the July-August 2024 protests against job quotas, which evolved into a broader anti-government movement toppling Hasina's regime.
Hadi was shot in the head by masked assailants on a motorcycle on December 12, 2025, while traveling in a rickshaw in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area after leaving a mosque. He was initially treated in local hospitals before being airlifted to Singapore General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on December 18, 2025. Police have identified suspects, released photographs of two key individuals, and offered a reward of 5 million taka (approximately $42,000) for information leading to arrests. Reports suggest the main shooter may have fled to India, where Hasina is in exile, prompting diplomatic exchanges between Dhaka and New Delhi.
The United Nations expressed deep concern over the killing. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged a “prompt, impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation” into the attack, emphasizing accountability and calling for calm to prevent further divisions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the assassination and stressed the need for restraint ahead of elections.
Hadi's death triggered two days of violent protests across Bangladesh, including vandalism and arson targeting media offices (such as Prothom Alo and The Daily Star), cultural centers, and other properties. Authorities arrested several individuals in connection with related violence, including the lynching of a Hindu garment worker amid blasphemy allegations.
The interim government condemned the unrest as attempts by “fringe elements” to destabilize the fragile democratic transition. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called for independent probes into both Hadi's killing and the subsequent violence, highlighting concerns over journalist safety and minority protections.
Despite the tensions, the funeral proceeded peacefully, reflecting widespread grief for a leader seen as embodying the spirit of the 2024 uprising. Nazrul Islam's rebellious poetry, which inspired anti-colonial struggles, was often recited by Hadi, underscoring the symbolic significance of his burial site.
As Bangladesh prepares for elections, Hadi's assassination has heightened fears of political violence, with calls for unity and accountability resonating across the political spectrum.
