Omar Hadi claims a “quarter within the government” orchestrated the assassination to derail the February 12 national elections.
December 24, 2025: In a direct confrontation with the current administration, Sharif Omar Hadi, the brother of assassinated youth icon Sharif Osman Hadi, has accused the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of direct involvement in the killing.
Speaking at a “Shahidi Shopoth” (Martyr’s Oath) program in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Omar Hadi alleged that the assassination was a calculated move to “sabotage” the democratic transition.
The Allegation: Sabotaging the February Polls
Sharif Osman Hadi, the 32-year-old convener of the Inqilab Moncho, was a frontrunner candidate for the February 12, 2026, general election.
His brother claims his popularity made him a target for those within the power structure who wish to postpone the polls.
- Direct Accusal: “It is you who had Osman Hadi killed, and now you are trying to foil the election by using this as an issue,” Omar Hadi stated, according to The Daily Star.
- The “Agency” Factor: Omar claimed his brother was killed because he refused to bow to “foreign masters” or secret agencies, maintaining an independent political stance.
- Ultimatum: The family warned that if justice is not served swiftly, the interim leaders would be “compelled to flee Bangladesh,” drawing parallels to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
A Timeline of Terror
The death of Osman Hadi has become a flashpoint for a new wave of instability in Bangladesh.
| Date | Event |
| Dec 12, 2025 | Osman Hadi is shot in the head by masked gunmen on a motorcycle while leaving a mosque in Dhaka. |
| Dec 15, 2025 | On the orders of the interim government, he is airlifted to Singapore General Hospital for specialized care. |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Hadi succumbs to his injuries; news of his death triggers nationwide riots and arson. |
| Dec 18 (Night) | Mobs attack the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo; a Hindu worker, Dipu Chandra Das, is lynched in Mymensingh. |
| Dec 23, 2025 | Omar Hadi delivers his scathing address at Shahbagh, vowing a “mass movement” if arrests are not made. |
The Government’s Response
Amidst the allegations of a cover-up, the interim government has moved to fast-track the investigation.4
- Speedy Trial: Law Adviser Asif Nazrul announced that the case would be tried under the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, with a mandate to complete the trial within 90 days of the charge sheet.5
- Arrests: Police have detained at least 10 people, including relatives of the prime suspect, Faisal Karim Masud.6 However, Masud himself remains at large, with rumors suggesting he may have fled the country.7
- International Concern: The United Nations and the US Embassy in Dhaka have called for a “thorough and transparent” investigation to prevent the country from slipping back into autocracy.8
Political Fallout
The assassination has united various factions against the interim government. While the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have officially mourned the loss, the radical Inqilab Moncho has threatened to “topple” the Yunus administration if the “Awami associates” within the intelligence agencies are not purged.9