Tensions between Bangladesh and India escalated on Sunday as Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) announced that two prime suspects in the high-profile murder of radical Islamist mob leader Osman Hadi had fled across the border into India’s Meghalaya state. Indian officials, including the Border Security Force (BSF) and Meghalaya Police, swiftly rejected the claims as “baseless and misleading.”
Hadi, the 32-year-old spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho—a radical platform associated with Jamaat-Shibir—was shot in the head by masked gunmen on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He succumbed to his injuries on December 18 in a Singapore hospital, sparking widespread unrest, including attacks on media houses and minority communities. A leaked document of Evercare Hospital, however, states that Hadi died following a surgery on December 13.
At a press briefing on December 28, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S.N. Md Nazrul Islam identified the suspects as Faisal Karim Masud (alleged shooter, reportedly a former Awami League student wing member) and Alamgir Sheikh (motorcycle rider). Islam claimed the pair crossed the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh with local assistance, were received by an individual named Purti, and later transported by taxi driver Sami to Tura in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills. He added that informal sources indicated Meghalaya authorities had detained Purti and Sami.
“We are maintaining communication with Indian authorities through formal and informal channels to ensure their arrest and extradition,” Islam said, expressing confidence in India’s cooperation. A DMP press release further stated that arrests of several facilitators on the Bangladesh side had yielded confessions confirming the suspects’ border crossing.
However, Indian sources categorically denied the allegations. Senior Meghalaya Police officials and BSF Inspector General O.P. Opadhyay told media outlets, including The Hindu and India Today, that there was “no evidence” of any illegal crossing in the Haluaghat sector.
“These claims are unfounded and misleading,” Opadhyay said, emphasising constant border surveillance. Diplomatic sources described the Bangladeshi information as “inaccurate.”
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The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing protests in Dhaka. Activists from Inqilab Moncho blockaded the key Shahbagh intersection for hours on December 28, starting around 2 p.m., disrupting traffic but leaving connecting roads partially open. The demonstration, part of a series since Hadi’s death, featured anti-India and anti-Awami League slogans, as well as chants supporting Kashmir’s independence and religious invocations like “Naraye Takbir,” amid a notable presence of Jamaat-e-Islami and Shibir affiliates.
Before dispersing around 9:30pm, protesters announced four demands:
1. Complete trial within 24 days of the entire “killer circle,” including murderers, planners, aides, facilitators, and shelter providers.
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2. Cancellation of work permits for all Indian citizens in Bangladesh.
3. If India refuses to extradite sheltered killers, file a case against India at an international court.
4. Identify, arrest, and prosecute “fascist collaborators” hiding in civil and military intelligence agencies.
Leaders warned of tougher actions if demands are unmet, vowing to continue street agitation. Similar blockades occurred in divisional cities, expanding the movement nationwide.
Hadi’s killing has fueled anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, with protesters accusing New Delhi of sheltering Awami League figures, including Sheikh Hasina. His death previously triggered violence, including arson at newspaper offices and the lynching of a Hindu worker.
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