Bangladesh police on Tuesday said that student leader Sharif Osman Hadi was killed due to political vengeance, allegedly carried out at the behest of the Awami League. Authorities have filed formal charges against 17 individuals in connection with the murder.
Police said Hadi had openly criticised the past activities of the now banned Awami League and its student wing, the Chhatra League, through public rallies and social media. His outspoken views reportedly angered leaders and activists linked to the Chhatra League and its associated groups.
Mohammed Shafiqul Islam, Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch, said the investigation established a clear political motive behind the killing. He stated that, considering the political identities of both the accused and the victim, along with Hadi’s earlier political statements, investigators concluded that the murder was driven by political vengeance.
The Chhatra League functions as the student organisation of the Awami League, formerly led by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Police submitted a chargesheet to the court naming 17 accused, including prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud. Officials confirmed that 12 of the accused have been arrested so far, while five are still absconding.
Sharif Osman Hadi, aged 32, was a spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho and gained national recognition during the July–August 2024 mass protests that led to the fall of the Hasina led government. He was shot in the head on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka ahead of the February 12 parliamentary elections, in which he was also a candidate.
Hadi was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries on December 18, adding to concerns over political violence in Bangladesh.
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