Sharif Osman Hadi, a controversial and influential figure in Bangladesh’s recent political unrest, has died while receiving treatment in Singapore. Hadi, who was 32 years old, was one of the most prominent leaders of the 2024 student protests that ultimately led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. He served as the convener of the radical platform Inqilab Mancha and was widely known for his hardline Islamist views and strong anti-India stance.

Hadi passed away on December 18, 2025, at a Singapore hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for severe gunshot injuries. These injuries were the result of an assassination attempt that took place in Dhaka on December 12. The attack left him critically wounded, prompting authorities to transfer him out of the country for advanced medical care. Despite efforts by doctors, he did not survive.

At the time of his death, Hadi was actively campaigning as an independent candidate for the February 2026 national elections. His political activities and fiery speeches had drawn both devoted supporters and sharp critics. During the student protests and the period that followed, Hadi emerged as one of the most radical voices, frequently directing his anger toward India. He had shared distorted maps promoting the idea of a so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’. These maps showed India’s Bengal and Bihar, along with the entire North Eastern states, as part of Bangladesh, while depicting the whole of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab as Pakistani territory. Hadi openly claimed that he wanted a ‘Greater Bangladesh’, a position that alarmed many and intensified tensions in the region.

Following news of his death, unrest spread quickly. Supporters of Hadi turned violent in Dhaka and several other cities. Groups linked to Inquilab Mancha, along with other radical organisations, took to the streets, vandalising property and setting buildings on fire. Offices of leading newspapers, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were attacked, with protesters accusing the media outlets of bias. Indian diplomatic missions also became targets, as demonstrators shouted anti-India slogans and hurled stones.

In response to the unfolding crisis, Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced a period of national mourning on December 20. However, anger on the streets has not subsided. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting of Hadi. Authorities have identified a 35-year-old man, Faisal Karim Masud, as the prime suspect. Masud is a former leader of the Chhatra League, but he remains at large.

Who Was Sharif Osman Hadi, the July Uprising Figure Whose Death Shook Bangladesh

Bangladesh once again finds itself on the edge of instability after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key leader of the July Uprising. Hadi had been shot last week and was fighting for his life in a Singapore hospital before succumbing to his injuries. His death has sparked widespread protests and deepened political divisions across the country.

Hadi was shot in the head by masked gunmen while he was launching his election campaign in the Bijoynagar area of central Dhaka. The brazen nature of the attack shocked the nation and raised serious questions about law and order. Addressing the public after Hadi’s death, Chief Adviser Yunus expressed grief and promised swift justice.

“Today, I came before you with very heartbreaking news. Sharif Osman Hadi, the fearless frontline fighter of the July Uprising and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha, is no more among us,” Yunus said.

Earlier in the week, the government had arranged for Hadi to be flown to Singapore in an air ambulance. Doctors in Dhaka had described his condition as ‘extremely critical’, leaving little hope for recovery. After his death, videos circulated widely on social media showing mobs attacking the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. The protests were filled with emotional slogans invoking Hadi’s name, as demonstrators pledged to continue their movement and demanded immediate justice and accountability for his killing.

The Life and Political Rise of Sharif Osman Hadi

Sharif Osman Hadi hailed from Nalchity in Jhalakathi, a district in southern Bangladesh. He was born into a modest family; his father worked as a madrasa teacher. Hadi began his education at Nesarabad Kamil Madrasa and later enrolled at Dhaka University, where he studied Political Science. His academic background played a significant role in shaping his political worldview.

Before fully entering the political spotlight, Hadi worked as a lecturer at the private University of Scholars. He went on to found a ‘socio-cultural platform’ known as Inquilab Mancha. This platform gained national attention after the July revolution of 2024 and quickly became politically influential.

Hadi was a fierce critic of both the Sheikh Hasina government and India. He played a central role in pushing Inquilab Mancha into the political mainstream, where it openly demanded the disbandment of Hasina’s Awami League. After Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal handed Sheikh Hasina a death sentence for ‘crimes against humanity’, Hadi praised the decision, stating, “This verdict has set a precedent for the entire world.”

Known for his aggressive rhetoric, Hadi did not hesitate to criticise the Bangladesh Army or the interim government led by Yunus. He accused the new leadership of failing to bring meaningful change to the country, a stance that resonated strongly with his supporters.

After his death, anti-India sentiment surged across Bangladesh. Many supporters alleged that Hadi’s attackers had fled to India after carrying out the murder. Protesters demanded that the interim government shut down the Indian High Commission until the suspects were returned.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), a major offshoot of Students against Discrimination, joined forces with a student group called Jatiya Chhatra Shakti. Together, they organised a mourning procession at Dhaka University, marching from the campus to Shahbagh. During the protest, Sarjis Alm, a senior NCP leader, issued a fiery warning, saying, “The interim government, until India returns assassins of Hadi Bhai, the Indian High Commission to Bangladesh will remain closed. Now or Never. We are in a war!”

Protests continued to spread across the capital, particularly around Dhaka University. Jatiya Chhatra Shakti organised another mourning procession, moving from Shahbagh to join a larger demonstration at a key intersection. During the unrest, protesters burned an effigy of Home Adviser and retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, demanding his resignation for what they called a failure to arrest those responsible for the attack on Hadi.

Violence was not limited to political targets. The main office of Chhayanaut, a respected institution dedicated to Bengali culture, was attacked in Dhanmondi. The building was vandalised and set on fire. In another incident, Nurul Kabir, president of the Editors’ Council of Bangladesh and editor of the New Age newspaper, was allegedly harassed outside The Daily Star office late Thursday night. Speaking to BBC Bangla, Kabir said, “Since the offices of two newspapers were being attacked, I went there out of a sense of responsibility as the president of the editors’ council to investigate. Then some young people, who may not know me, attacked me.”

The violence also reached private residences. The home of Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, a former Education Minister in the ousted Awami League government, was vandalised and set on fire by protesters demanding justice for Hadi. Prothom Alo later released a statement describing a “large-scale attack” on its offices, explaining that its print edition could not be published and its online portal was temporarily unavailable due to damage caused by vandalism and arson.

Amid the chaos, a Hindu man in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, was beaten to death by a mob over allegations of blasphemy. According to Bhaluka Police Station duty officer Ripon Mia, as quoted by BBC Bangla, the attackers tied the victim’s body to a tree and set it on fire after the lynching.

Elsewhere, protesters demolished the Awami League office in Rajshahi using an excavator, once again demanding justice for the killing of Inquilab Mancha founder Sharif Osman Hadi. In Chattogram, a group hurled bricks and stones at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner around 1:30 AM. Although no damage was reported, police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd and detained 12 protesters. Senior officials later assured the diplomat of adequate security.

The unrest reached a symbolic peak when protesters set fire to the house of Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32. The property had already been partially demolished earlier this year and had remained in ruins after prolonged vandalism. The latest attack underscored the depth of anger and instability gripping Bangladesh in the wake of Sharif Osman Hadi’s death.