Less than a day after Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election, an aspiring candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency was shot in broad daylight in the capital, an attack that signals the potential for escalating violence in the run-up to the polls.
Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, was critically injured after assailants riding a motorbike opened fire on him in the Bijoynagar area on Friday afternoon. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with severe head injuries and placed on life support.
Dr Zahid Raihan, head of the Neurosurgery Department, termed his condition extremely grave, saying the bullet had pierced his head but he still showed signs of life. Hadi suffered two cardiac arrests during the operation and experienced massive bleeding, he added.
Later at night, Hadi was shifted to Evercare Hospital where he was battling for life.
Police and witnesses said the assailants followed Hadi’s rickshaw and shot him in the head from close range near the Box Culvert area of Bijoynagar at around 2:25pm before speeding away on a motorcycle.
A witness, who was travelling on a rickshaw behind Hadi, said, “We were returning from Jumma prayers and heading toward the High Court. As soon as we reached Bijoynagar, two men rode up on a motorcycle, fired at Hadi, and fled. I was on the rickshaw right behind him.”
Police were collecting evidence from the scene and reviewing CCTV footage from the area as part of their ongoing investigation. Officers, treating the shooting as a high-priority case, believe it was a targeted attack. No arrests had been made till the filing of this report on Friday evening.
Based on the manner of the attack, investigators suspect the assailants had been trailing Hadi before striking.
The broad-daylight assault in a busy area has already raised alarm over the security climate ahead of the national election. Several aspiring candidates told TIMES of Bangladesh that the attack has intensified their concerns about safety even before the campaign officially gains momentum.
Political analysts and security experts warn that such violence, emerging so soon after the poll schedule announcement, could foreshadow a volatile and contentious campaign season.
The shooting drew widespread protest and condemnation across the country. Political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party, expressed deep concern.
BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman alleged that a conspiracy was already underway to disrupt the election, while secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on the interim government to ensure the safety of all candidates.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed grave concern over the shooting, calling the incident “completely unacceptable and extremely unfortunate for the country’s peaceful political environment.” He directed authorities to ensure the highest level of medical care for Hadi and ordered law-enforcement agencies to carry out a swift and thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators.
Inqilab Mancha and Hadi
Hadi came to public attention through his speeches as spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, a cultural platform established after the July 2024 uprising with the stated aim of “protecting independence and sovereignty and building a state based on justice.”
The platform, which demanded a ban on the Awami League, is said to be backed by several Islamic parties and organisations.
As Hadi prepared to contest the parliamentary polls, he sought public and media attention with combative remarks and often portrayed himself as an influential figure.
A former student of Dhaka University, Hadi was once a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat. He studied at a madrasa in his home district of Jhalokati and had been involved in various cultural activities.
Earlier, on 14 November, Hadi posted on Facebook alleging threats of death, arson at his home, and threats of sexual violence against his family. He also claimed he had received calls and text messages from at least 30 foreign numbers warning him of surveillance and possible attacks.
