Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontline figure of the July mass uprising and spokesperson of Inquilab Manch, has died, the platform confirmed on Thursday night. The announcement was made at around 9:45 pm on December 18 through Inquilab Manch’s verified Facebook page. He was also a prospective independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency.
Earlier on Thursday, a post from Osman Hadi’s verified social media page stated that the revolutionary leader had been accepted as a martyr while confronting what it described as Indian hegemony.
Osman Hadi had been critically injured in a targeted shooting on Friday, December 12, at approximately 2:30 pm in the Box Culvert Road area of Purana Paltan in the capital. According to reports, motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on him while he was traveling in a battery-powered rickshaw.
He was initially rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Evercare Hospital and later flown to Singapore for advanced treatment. He had been undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital.
Investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that Osman Hadi had been under surveillance for several months prior to the attack. His daily movements, residence, office routes, and security arrangements were closely monitored. Intelligence officials are examining who orchestrated the attack and whose interests it served, suggesting the assault was the result of prolonged planning.
Investigators also found that following the shooting, former Chhatra League leader Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Daud Khan or Rahul, took shelter at his sister’s residence in Agargaon. Subsequently, the shooter Faisal and motorcycle rider Alamgir Sheikh fled the area. According to intelligence sources, both are currently believed to be in a neighboring country.
A joint investigation by the Rapid Action Battalion and the Detective Branch led to the recovery of weapons and ammunition used in the attack. On Tuesday, December 16, two magazines and 11 rounds of bullets were recovered from beneath a residential building on Colonel Gali in Agargaon. Later, RAB recovered an additional five firearms and 41 rounds of ammunition from Narsingdi.
In connection with the incident, Inquilab Manch member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed a case of attempted murder with Paltan Police Station. The case is currently being investigated by the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam said that interrogation of the arrested suspects is ongoing. He stated that investigators are examining the roles of each individual involved and identifying those behind the attack.
So far, RAB and police have jointly arrested nine individuals in connection with the case. They have been placed on remand for varying durations, and the investigation remains ongoing.
