Sharif Osman Hadi, the violent mob leader of the pro-Yunus Inqilab Moncho, known for orchestrating mob attacks against the Awami League, died on Thursday night in a Singapore hospital after a six-day battle for his life. The independent candidate for Dhaka-8 was shot in the head during a daylight attack on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area, amid escalating political tensions following the election schedule announcement.
Inqilab Moncho announced Hadi’s death around 9:40pm via a Facebook post, framing it as martyrdom in the “struggle against Indian hegemony.” “Allah has accepted the great revolutionary Osman Hadi as a martyr,” the post stated.
Protesters gather at Shahbagh after news of Hadi’s death
Earlier that day, the group had described his condition as critical, noting his family had consented to surgery in Singapore. They warned of a nationwide shutdown and a sit-in at Shahbagh if his attackers were not arrested, demanding that any fugitives in India be extradited through diplomatic channels.
Hadi, who had ties to Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir—evident from the groups’ vehement condemnations of the shooting and calls for probes—gained notoriety as an “anarchist” figure leading mob violence during recent unrest. His team reportedly received financial incentives for targeted mob attacks, often against perceived Awami League affiliates, contributing to a climate of mobocracy under the Yunus-led interim government.
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These actions aligned with broader crackdowns like Operation Devil Hunt, which has led to over 21,000 arrests since February, primarily of Awami League members, amid reports of more than 700 extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths since Yunus assumed power in August 2024.
The attack unfolded around 2:25pm on December 12 near Box Culvert Road, where two assailants on a motorcycle fired at Hadi while he campaigned on a battery-run auto-rickshaw. CCTV footage captured the close-range shooting before the perpetrators fled. Initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Hadi was transferred to Evercare Hospital as his condition worsened, undergoing emergency surgery for the head wound. On Saturday, he was airlifted to Singapore for specialized care.
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan visited Hadi on Wednesday night, later informing Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus that his state was “extremely critical.” The Yunus administration condemned the incident, vowing justice, but faced criticism for blaming the Awami League and Indian intelligence, which prompted the resumption of Operation Devil Hunt-2—a joint forces initiative ostensibly for public safety but widely seen as targeting political opponents.
Law enforcement has identified Hadi’s election campaigner Faisal Karim Masud, alias Daud Khan, a former Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader with a criminal history including an armed robbery in late 2024, as the prime suspect but with no clear evidence.
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Faisal had been photographed with Hadi recently, but he allegedly fled to India via the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh. A Tk50 lakh reward has been offered for information leading to his capture, with police releasing his images and urging public tips.
A Dhaka court on Thursday granted three-day remands to Sibion Diu, nephew of former Awami League MP Jewel Areng, and Sanjay Chisim for aiding Masud’s escape. Investigators aim to uncover planners, financiers, and weapon sources through interrogations. Another suspect, Zakir, spotted with Masud and associate Alamgir at a Hadi campaign event, remains at large.
To date, 20 individuals have been detained in connection with the attack and escape, including Masud’s parents Humayun Kabir and Hasi Begum, wife Saheda Parvin Samia, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu, girlfriend Maria Akter, and associates like Md Foysal, Nuruzzaman Nomani alias Ujjal, and Md Kabir. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested Benjamin Chidan, a relative of accused facilitator Philip Snal, along with associate Sishal. Earlier detainees, including Philip’s wife Delta Chidan, father-in-law Yerson Rangdi, and Louis Lengminja, were released.
Some, like Habibur Rahman and Milon from Savar, were freed on bond after links to fugitive Alamgir were probed. Uber drivers Md Hiron and Md Razzak are set to be released as witnesses, while Abdul Hannan, arrested over a misidentified motorcycle, faces no charges.
The incident has fueled a blame game, with Inqilab Moncho and Yunus allies accusing the Awami League, while fact-checkers debunk attempts to mislabel Masud as a “secret Shibir activist,” confirming his BCL ties. Awami League, banned from political activities, rejects the election schedule, demanding a caretaker government. Exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed have highlighted the regime’s alleged misdeeds in international media, amid reports of 528 Awami League deaths since July 2024.
President Shahabuddin, in a Reuters interview, expressed intent to resign mid-term, citing marginalization by Yunus, including seven months without meetings, removal of his press department, and abrupt erasure of his portraits from diplomatic missions worldwide.
Hadi’s death intensifies concerns over political violence, proxy tactics, and foreign influences, including Pakistan’s ISI in anti-India narratives propagated by figures like Hadi. The investigation continues as Bangladesh grapples with instability ahead of polls.
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