Wrapped in the national flag, Sharif Osman Hadi’s coffin landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday (December 19) via Biman Bangladesh Airlines, met by crowds of grieving supporters who lined the path to Dhaka University Central Mosque.
Sharif Osman Hadi’s, youth activist and Inqilab Mancha spokesperson, funeral prayer wrapped up peacefully in Dhaka on Satrday (December 20), drawing thousands to Manik Mia Avenue for the Inqilab Mancha leader’s final rites. Honouring family wishes, he was laid to rest beside national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s grave, as mourners- some wrapped in national flags, others chanting justice slogans- flooded the street fronting Parliament from dawn.
Bangladesh exhales a cautious sigh after burying youth activist Sharif Osman Hadi, assassinated in a shocking Dhaka hit that unleashed riots and conspiracy claims. Saturday’s 2:00 pm service south of the National Parliament unfolded under ironclad security for massive crowds, exposing raw divisions and shaky stability in the capital. His death, post airlift to Singapore, looms over the interim regime’s February election drive, marking a fragile day of relative calm.
Post-funeral ultimatum: Hadi supporters threaten massive protests
After burying Sharif Osman Hadi, his supporters issued a stark warning to the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus and said that arrest all of Hadi’s killers within 24 hours, or face a massive agitation. The demand, voiced amid lingering tensions in Dhaka, underscores the raw anger over the youth leader’s assassination and pressures authorities to act swiftly before unrest reignites.
Assassination that shook the nation
Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in last year’s student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s regime, fell victim to masked gunmen on December 12. Campaigning for the upcoming February 12 polls in Dhaka’s bustling Bijoynagar area, he was shot point-blank in the head while riding a rickshaw. Rushed to local hospitals, Hadi clung to life before an air ambulance whisked him to Singapore on December 15 for cutting-edge care. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries on December 18 (Thursday), leaving behind a legacy as Inqilab Mancha’s fiery convenor and election hopeful.
News of his passing late Thursday unleashed chaos overnight. Protests erupted across Dhaka and beyond, with activists hurling stones at the Assistant Indian High Commissioner’s residence in Chattogram, torching newspaper offices like Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and vandalising Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. The violence underscored simmering tensions from the July Revolution, fueling demands for justice and accountability.
Funeral arrangements and strict security measures
Hadi’s body, draped in the national flag, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Friday evening on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, greeted by throngs of mourning supporters lining the route to Dhaka University Central Mosque. Honoring family wishes, Inqilab Mancha opted for burial beside national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s grave at Manik Mia Avenue, skipping public viewing to curb unrest. “Pray for Hadi while maintaining peace,” the group urged via social media.
Dhaka bristles with security: thousands of law enforcement officers cordon the Parliament complex, drones are banned, and attendees must shun bags or heavy items. Traffic halts from Khejur Bagan Crossing to the avenue, anticipating huge turnouts. Mourners already converged at Shahbagh Friday, swelling crowds at the site by Saturday morning. National flags fly at half-mast during this day of state mourning, a somber nod to Hadi’s role in Bangladesh’s turbulent transition.
Political firestorm and calls for accountability
The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, faces mounting pressure. As Hadi’s coffin reached Dhaka amid fresh clashes, officials implored citizens to reject “fringe elements” stoking violence. Sixteen civil society groups- from Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee to University Teachers’ Network- issued a scathing joint statement Friday, slamming the home adviser’s failure to protect citizens from “ousted Awami League forces.” They demanded his resignation, warning that a year post-uprising, public safety remains elusive.
Media bodies like Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council and Newspaper Owners’ Association decried attacks on press outlets as assaults on freedom. BNP leader Khaleda Zia’s party alleged a grand plot to derail elections, with Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir blasting the riots at a late-night press conference: “A long-identified group is pushing Bangladesh toward chaos.” Inqilab Mancha cadres, gathering for the procession, echo calls for calm yet vow to honor Hadi’s fight for change.
