Protests have erupted across Bangladesh following the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prospective independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency and spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho.
Hadi was critically injured in a daylight attack in the capital’s Paltan area on Friday, raising widespread concerns over public safety and political violence in the country.
Supporters of Hadi gathered outside Dhaka Medical College Hospital to show solidarity, prompting the deployment of security forces to maintain order.
“The attack on a political activist in broad daylight is deeply disturbing,” said Nazmul Hasan, president of the Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Committee.
“Taking a firm stand against such acts is the duty of every citizen. Ensuring public safety is not the responsibility of a single organisation—it is a national obligation.”
Demonstrations also spread to other cities and university campuses, where crowds demanded justice and called for a safer political environment.
In Jhalokathi, protesters blocked roads to demand swift action against the perpetrators, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Students led marches at Begum Rokeya University and Rajshahi University, emphasising the need for collective action to combat political violence.
Political parties have also reacted strongly to the incident. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced nationwide protests on Saturday, condemning the attack and demanding immediate accountability.
In a statement, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called the shooting part of a broader plan to destabilise the electoral environment.
“This is a deliberate attempt to spread fear and panic in society for political gain. Certain groups are exploiting chaos to benefit from unrest,” the statement said.
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman demanded the swift arrest of the attackers via social media, while Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party, warned that political activists, including himself, face similar threats.
“Like Osman Hadi, our lives are also in danger. We may also be killed, but we are determined to continue fighting, even if it means fighting with our lives,” he told reporters.
