A man walks after a group of people set fire to The Daily Star newspaper office building following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader who had been receiving treatment in Singapore after being shot in the head, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Bangladesh will observe a day of national mourning on Saturday (December 20, 2025) and all places of worship on Friday (December 19) will offer special prayers for Sharif Osman Hadi, the upcoming right-wing leader who passed away in Singapore on Thursday (December 18, 2025). Hadi was shot by unknown assailants on December 12 and he was sent to Singapore for medical care earlier this week.
In a speech telecast late night, Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh Mohammed Yunus announced that Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, had called him and conveyed the news about the passing of Hadi. The disrupting effect of Hadi’s passing was amplified by the announcement by Mohammed Sarjis Alam of National Citizen Party who has accused India of sheltering the killers of Hadi and called for shutting down the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
“Once again, I want to say this clearly that Osman Hadi was the enemy of the defeatd fascist forces. The attempt to silence the voice of the revolutionaries by silencing him will be fully defeated. No one can stop the democratic progress of this country through terrorism or bloodshed,” said Mr. Yunus announcing that the government of Bangladesh will look after Hadi’s family.
Mr. Yunus said the perpetrators of the murder of Hadi will be given strictest punishment adding “We will not show any lineancy towards the perpetrators of this heinous crime.” The Chief Adviser said that Bangladesh should not fall for the trap set by “defeated fascist forces” and avoid instability. Acting Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, London-based Tarique Rahman has also condoled the passing of Hadi who was the leader of Inquilab Mancho, a radical outfit and was expected to contest from Dhaka in the upcoming election.
“After the July mass uprising, he played an incredible role in defending the rights of the July fighters, upholding democratic values, and protecting national interests,” said Mr Rahman condoling the untimely death. Mr. Rahman is expected to return from London, ending 18-years of exile, on December 25.
Dhaka erupted with the news of the demise of Sharif Osman Hadi with thousands of his followers gathering at the capital’s central neighbourhoods chanting slogans. In the process, two offices belonging to Prothom Alo and Daily Star – the biggest Bengali and English newspapers of Bangladesh were burnt down by the mob.
Late evening’s developments came after days of tension in which Hadi’s supporters have said that the assailants who shot him have escaped to India. Echoing the sentiment, Mohammed Sarjis Alam, prominent leader of the newly launched National Citizen Party (NCP) in a social media post has said, “Indian High Commission should be shut till the time murderers of martyred brother Hadi are returned by India.” Protesters tried to attack the Assistant High Commission of India in Rajshahi on Thursday and a similar attempt was made on Wednesday when a radical outfit July Mancho had tried to march to the Indian High Commission. In both instances, the police provided security to the Indian missions. Earlier, on Wednesday morning India had summoned the High Commissioner of Bangladesh Riaz Hamidullah and reminded Dhaka about the responsibility of the host country towards the safety and security of Indian missions in Bangladesh.
Published – December 19, 2025 09:06 am IST
