Bangladesh Mourns Death of July Uprising Leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore

Bangladesh: Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent organizer of the 2024 student-led July uprising and spokesperson for the anti-discrimination platform Inqilab Mancha, passed away on Thursday evening, December 18, 2025, while undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital. He was critically injured in a gunshot attack on December 12 in Dhaka.

Hadi, who was contesting as an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming February 12, 2026, parliamentary elections, succumbed to his injuries around 9:30 pm Bangladesh time, according to family members and Inqilab Mancha officials. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that despite intensive efforts by medical teams at the Singapore General Hospital and National Neuroscience Institute, Hadi could not be saved.

The news triggered widespread mourning across Bangladesh. Interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation, announcing a day of state mourning on Saturday, December 20, with the national flag to fly at half-mast across the country and at Bangladeshi missions abroad. Yunus described Hadi as a “fearless frontline fighter of the July Uprising” and pledged that the government would ensure justice for the “brutal assassination,” promising the highest punishment for those involved. He also assured support for Hadi’s wife and only child.

Political parties from across the spectrum expressed condolences. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) voiced deep sorrow, while Jamaat-e-Islami hailed Hadi as a “frontline fighter” of the movement and called for resistance against perceived external influences. Other groups, including Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the National Citizen Party, mourned his loss and demanded swift arrests.

Protests erupted in Dhaka following the announcement, with supporters blocking key intersections like Shahbagh and calling for accountability. Inqilab Mancha warned of nationwide agitation if the attackers are not apprehended, labeling Hadi a “martyr” in the struggle.

Hadi was shot in the head by motorcycle-borne assailants in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12, shortly after beginning his election campaign. He was initially treated in Dhaka before being airlifted to Singapore on December 15. Authorities have arrested over a dozen people in connection with the attack, with investigations pointing to possible political motives. Two prime suspects are believed to have fled across the border.

Hadi’s body is expected to be repatriated to Bangladesh soon. His death has heightened concerns over pre-election security as the nation prepares for its first polls since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.