UN Human Rights Chief Calls for Calm After Student Leader's Death in Bangladesh

Concerns Raised Over Violence Following Student Leader's Killing

Volker Türk, the United Nations Human Rights Chief, expressed his apprehensions on Friday regarding the recent murder of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 student protests that resulted in the removal of the Sheikh Hasina administration.

Hadi was shot on December 12 while exiting a mosque in Dhaka and succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at a hospital in Singapore, where he had been transported for medical care, as reported by local media. Authorities have identified Faisal Karim Masud as the shooter and named Alamgir Sheikh as his accomplice.

Following the announcement of Hadi's death, his supporters flooded the streets of Dhaka, demanding justice for his murder.

Protesters vandalized the offices of two local newspapers, which led to the suspension of their print editions on Friday, and their online platforms were also temporarily inaccessible.

Türk urged for calm, emphasizing that acts of retaliation would only exacerbate divisions and infringe upon the rights of all citizens.

He called for a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hadi's death, ensuring accountability for those responsible.

In response to the unrest, the Army was deployed to the newspaper offices, and several staff members were rescued by firefighters, according to reports.

Hadi was a prominent leader of the student organization Inqilab Mancha, which condemned the violence that erupted, claiming that opportunists were attempting to disrupt the protests.

The group stated, "They essentially want to turn Bangladesh into a dysfunctional state through vandalism and arson, endangering the country's independence and sovereignty."

Hadi's shooting occurred just a day after the government announced a national election scheduled for February 12, marking the first election since Hasina's resignation in August 2024, following extensive student-led protests against her rule.

With the upcoming election, Türk highlighted the importance of creating a safe environment for all individuals to engage in public life and express diverse opinions freely.

The UN official urged the government to uphold the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly while ensuring the safety of journalists during this critical period to prevent further unrest.