Bangladesh police have formally asserted that the killing of prominent student leader Sharif Osman Hadi was an act of political vengeance, as they submitted a chargesheet against seventeen individuals linked to the murder. The investigation points directly to the student wing of the formerly ruling Awami League party.
The Chargesheet and Political Motive
On Tuesday, the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) presented the final chargesheet in the high-profile case. Md Shafiqul Islam, Additional Commissioner of the DMP Detective Branch, stated that Hadi's vocal criticism of the Awami League and its student front, the Chhatra League, led to his assassination. "Through public rallies and social media, Hadi had strongly criticised the past activities of the now-banned Awami League and Chhatra League. Hadi’s outspoken remarks angered leaders and activists," Islam was quoted as saying.
He emphasized that the probe, considering the political backgrounds of both the accused and the victim, conclusively found that Hadi was shot dead due to political vengeance. The Chhatra League is the student wing of the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League.
Details of the Assassination and Accused
Sharif Osman Hadi, the 32-year-old spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho platform, was shot in the head on December 12 during an election campaign event in Dhaka. A parliamentary candidate for the February 12 elections, Hadi had risen to prominence during the mass protests of July-August 2024 that toppled the Hasina government. He was airlifted to Singapore for treatment but succumbed to his injuries on December 18.
Police identified the alleged shooter as Faisal Karim Masud, who was directly involved with the Chhatra League. Another key accused, Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi To date, twelve of the seventeen accused have been arrested in connection with the case. The chargesheet was filed a day earlier than the official deadline announced by Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. This move came amid sustained protests in Dhaka by Hadi's platform, Inqilab Moncho, which has been demanding swift justice for the killing. The case has intensified the political atmosphere in Bangladesh, highlighting ongoing tensions following the fall of the previous government. The police's clear attribution of the murder to political vendetta marks a significant development, placing the spotlight on the activities of student political groups and the volatile climate ahead of the national elections.Timeline and Political Repercussions
