Did Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Kill Osman Hadi?

Investigators name 17 individuals, including Jubo League leader Taijul Islam Chowdhury Bappi as the “mastermind” behind the student leader’s assassination.

January 7, 2025: In a significant development that has further polarized the Bangladeshi political landscape, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) submitted a formal chargesheet on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in the murder of student icon Sharif Osman Hadi.

The 32-year-old convenor of Inqilab Moncho was shot in the head on December 12 and succumbed to his injuries on December 18 at Singapore General Hospital.

The police have officially attributed the killing to a “political vendetta” orchestrated by the youth and student wings of the now-banned Awami League.

Key Figures Named in the Chargesheet

The Detective Branch (DB) of the DMP has identified a coordinated network of 17 people involved in the planning, execution, and aftermath of the shooting.

Suspect	Role	Political Affiliation
Taijul Islam Chowdhury Bappi	Mastermind	Organising Secy, Jubo League (Dhaka North)
Faisal Karim Masud	Primary Shooter	Former Leader, Chhatra League
Alamgir Sheikh	Accomplice	Member, Adabar Thana Jubo League
Wahid Ahmed Shipu	Support / Arrested	Relative of the shooter

Status of the Accused: Of the 17 named, 11 are in custody, while 6—including Bappi and Masud—remain absconding. While police claimed the duo fled to India, Faisal Karim Masud recently released a video from Dubai denying all charges and accusing “Jamaati elements” of the crime.

The Motive: Silencing a Critic

According to DB Chief Shafiqul Islam, Hadi was targeted for his vocal opposition to the fallen Sheikh Hasina regime.

The Trigger: Hadi, an independent parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-8, had frequently criticized the Awami League and Chhatra League in public rallies and on social media.
The Investigation: Police recovered two foreign pistols, 52 rounds of ammunition, and a bank cheque worth ₹218 crore linked to the suspects during the probe, suggesting the hit was well-funded.

Inqilab Moncho Rejects “Simplistic” Report

Hadi’s party has dismissed the chargesheet as a cover-up for a larger conspiracy. Abdullah Al Jaber, Member Secretary of Inqilab Moncho, argued that a mere ward councillor (Bappi) could not have orchestrated an assassination of this scale.

“The murder was carried out by a wider network with direct involvement of the state machinery,” Jaber stated. “Until those forces are brought to justice, any chargesheet excluding them is unacceptable.”

The party has extended its “March for Justice” protests, warning the interim government that they will demand its resignation if a “transparent and impartial” trial is not initiated within the 30-day deadline (ending mid-January).

Disha Rojhe