Dhaka: The family of slain Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi has made a dramatic allegation against the country’s interim government, claiming those in power were responsible for his killing in a bid to disrupt the upcoming national election, reported the NDTV world.
Sharif Osman Hadi, convenor and spokesperson of the Inqilab Moncho movement, was shot in Dhaka on December 12 and later died during treatment in Singapore on December 18. The 32-year-old had risen to prominence as a key voice in the 2024 student uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
Addressing a gathering in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, organised by Inqilab Moncho under the banner of a “Shaheedi Oath” ceremony, Hadi’s brother, Sharif Omar bin Hadi, directly accused a section within the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating the assassination to “derail” the February elections.
“It was you who had Osman Hadi killed, and now you are trying to foil the election by using this as an issue,” Omar Hadi told the crowd, accord
ing to media reports. He urged authorities to ensure a speedy trial of those responsible, warning that if justice was not delivered, the government itself would face consequences.
Omar said the murder occurred while the interim government held state power and therefore “cannot avoid responsibility,” adding that whether now or years later, those accountable would have to face trial. He reiterated that his brother had campaigned for the election to proceed in February and accused opposing forces of trying to use Hadi’s death to undermine the democratic process.
The killing has triggered political unrest in Bangladesh, with protests erupting across the capital, Dhaka, and beyond. Opposition leaders, including ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, have criticised the interim government’s handling of law and order, arguing that violence has increased and pointing to the murder as evidence of deteriorating security conditions.
In response to the growing outcry, the government has pledged to expedite the investigation and judicial proceedings. Bangladesh’s Law Adviser, Asif Nazrul, said the case would be pursued under the country’s Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, with authorities aiming to complete the trial within the statutory timeframe once the police submit their investigation report.
Hadi’s death has also ignited wider tensions: as demonstrations grew, a Hindu worker, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob in an unrelated incident, further adding to public anger and concern.