DHAKA (MNN); Tens of thousands of mourners, including Bangladesh’s interim government chief, attended the funeral on Saturday of Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader and election candidate who was fatally shot last week while campaigning for the February parliamentary elections.
Hadi, 32, a prominent figure in last year’s student-led movement that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was attacked in Dhaka by masked gunmen and succumbed to his injuries in Singapore after six days on life support. His death has sparked unrest across Bangladesh, including attacks on major newspapers and cultural institutions.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed throughout Dhaka for the funeral, and no renewed violence was reported. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus described Hadi’s legacy as enduring and called the funeral a pledge to uphold the values he championed. Hadi was laid to rest at Dhaka University beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Bangladesh is set to hold elections on February 12, a crucial step toward stabilizing the country after nearly two years of political turmoil. Analysts say ongoing protests and infighting, including actions by Islamist hardliners, highlight challenges for Yunus’ interim government.
Human Rights Watch condemned Hadi’s killing as a “terrible act” and urged authorities to halt the violence, while Amnesty International called for independent investigations into the attacks on Hadi, journalists, and cultural organizations. Demonstrations continued in Dhaka and Chittagong, with protesters demanding justice for Hadi and accountability for the attacks, including assaults on media offices and the Indian Assistant High Commission.
