Bangladesh Police Investigate Political Motive Behind Activist's Murder

Allegations of Political Vendetta in Activist's Death

On Tuesday, authorities in Bangladesh reported that activist Sharif Osman Hadi was allegedly murdered under the orders of individuals associated with the now-dissolved Awami League party and its student faction, the Chhatra League, according to local media.

Law enforcement officials indicated that the incident stemmed from a "political vendetta."

Mohammed Shafiqul Islam, Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch, stated that Hadi had openly criticized the actions of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League and its student wing.

He remarked, "Hadi's candid comments provoked anger among leaders and members of the Chhatra League and related groups."

Islam further noted, "Given the political affiliations of both the accused and the victim's prior statements, our investigation suggests that Hadi was murdered due to political motives."

Hadi was a significant figure in the 2024 student protests that contributed to the previous government's removal. He was preparing to run in the upcoming elections set for February.

On December 12, he was shot while exiting a mosque in Dhaka and succumbed to his injuries on December 18 in a Singapore hospital, where he had been transported for medical care. His death sparked unrest across various regions in Bangladesh, including violent incidents targeting minority groups.

On Tuesday, police announced that a chargesheet naming 17 individuals had been submitted to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

Islam mentioned that one of the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud, had ties to the Chhatra League. Another suspect, Taijul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, allegedly assisted Masud and the main suspect, Alamgir Sheikh, in escaping after the shooting.

Currently, 12 individuals have been apprehended, while five remain at large, according to police reports.

Previously, the Bangladesh police claimed that Masud and Sheikh had crossed into Meghalaya with assistance from local residents and were hiding there.

On Tuesday, police indicated that the extradition process would commence once formal charges are established by the court.

On December 29, the Indian Border Security Force refuted the claims made by the Bangladesh police.

Inspector General OP Upadhyay of the Border Security Force in Meghalaya stated that the allegations were entirely unfounded, fabricated, and misleading, lacking any supporting evidence.

He added, "There has been no cross-border movement reported from the Meghalaya sector, and the Bangladesh Border Guard has not indicated any such occurrences."