Web Desk: Thousands of mourners gathered in Dhaka on Saturday to bury Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old student movement leader whose killing has deepened political tensions and sparked calls for an international-standard investigation.
Funeral draws top leaders, mass turnout
Hadi’s funeral prayers were held at multiple venues, including outside the national parliament, where interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus joined political leaders, members of an advisory council and ordinary citizens. Later, Hadi was laid to rest at Dhaka University, buried beside the mausoleum of Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Bangladeshi media reported that Hadi’s elder brother, cleric and academic Maulana Dr. Abu Bakr Siddiq, led the prayers. Thousands attended, chanting slogans and demanding accountability.
Authorities allege cross-border escape
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi authorities blamed India for failing to prevent the suspects from fleeing across the border after the attack. Officials said the assailants escaped to India following the shooting. The Foreign Ministry has formally sought the suspects’ return, according to local reports. India has not publicly responded to the allegation.
The killing and medical evacuation
Earlier, on Dec. 12, masked gunmen shot Hadi in the head in Dhaka, witnesses said. Doctors transferred him to Singapore for advanced treatment on Dec. 15, but he died from his injuries. His body was flown back to Dhaka a day before the funeral.
UN urges impartial probe
In response, the United Nations’ top human rights official, Volker Türk, called for a prompt, impartial, comprehensive and transparent investigation. He urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure legal action and accountability for those responsible.
Day of mourning amid tight security
Separately, the interim government declared a national day of mourning, with heightened security across the country. Yunus announced the decision in a televised address, followed by a formal notification from the cabinet division.
Unrest follows death
At the same time, unrest continued in parts of Bangladesh after Hadi’s death. British media reported that overnight violence in Lakshmipur’s Bhawaniganj area included the torching of a local opposition leader’s home, killing one child and injuring three others. Police said they were investigating the incident.
Hadi, a spokesperson for the activist platform Inqilab Mancha, had emerged as a prominent voice in recent student-led protests. His death has intensified scrutiny of political violence and renewed demands for justice at home and abroad.
Read more: Evidence links Indian RAW agents to Osman Hadi killing
