Osman Hadi’s Brother Accuses Yunus Regime of Murder Plot to Derail Bangladesh Polls

The brother of slain Bangladeshi youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi has accused elements within the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating his murder to derail the country’s upcoming national elections.

Speaking at a “Shahidi Shopoth” (Martyr’s Oath) programme organised by Inqilab Mancha at Shahbagh in Dhaka, Osman Hadi’s brother Sharif Omar Hadi alleged that a vested faction within the government was responsible for the killing.

“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 said while addressing the authorities, according to a report by The Daily Star.

He claimed that his brother had been vocal in demanding that national elections be held by February and urged the government not to disturb the electoral atmosphere. Calling for swift justice, Omar Hadi said delays in the investigation were fuelling public anger and mistrust.

“Ensure a speedy trial so the election environment is not damaged. There has been no visible progress so far. If justice is not delivered, those responsible will also be forced to flee the country one day,” he warned.

Omar Hadi further alleged that his brother was targeted because he refused to submit to pressure from any state agency or what he described as “foreign masters,” framing the killing as politically motivated.

At the same rally, Inqilab Mancha member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber reiterated a 30-working-day ultimatum issued to the government to identify and arrest the perpetrators, warning of intensified agitation if the demand was not met.

Sharif Osman Hadi, an outspoken anti-India student leader who rose to prominence during last year’s July uprising, was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a battery-powered rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. According to media reports, two motorcycle-borne assailants fired at his head before fleeing the scene.

He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors diagnosed severe brain stem injuries, and was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment. Hadi succumbed to his injuries on December 18.

His death has since triggered widespread protests across Bangladesh, with demonstrators gathering at Shahbagh to demand immediate arrests and accountability, further intensifying political tensions ahead of the planned polls.