Attempted Assassination of “July Revolutionary” Hadi in Bangladesh

By Mahbub Hasan Tutul, Dhaka Correspondent

An assassin has attempted to kill Sharif Osman Hadi, a leading figure of the July Revolution and spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, by shooting him in public in Bangladesh.

Hadi is in critical condition. The brutal attack occurred the day after the schedule for the 13th parliamentary elections was announced.

The attempted killing of the young politician known for his outspoken criticism of India and the Awami League is being viewed as part of a broader effort to derail the elections and destabilize the country.

The attack took place last Friday afternoon, shortly after Friday prayers, while Hadi was campaigning in the Paltan Bijoynagar area of the capital. He was seriously injured in the sudden assault.

Initially, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where he was placed on life support and underwent emergency surgery. Later that evening, at around 6:45 pm, he was transferred to Evercare Hospital following a decision by his family.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed deep concern over the incident and directed that a swift and comprehensive investigation be conducted, with strict punishment for those responsible. Various political parties and student organizations, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, strongly condemned the attack and demanded the immediate restoration of a peaceful electoral environment.

DMCH Director Brigadier General Asaduzzaman confirmed that Hadi sustained a gunshot injury to the head, with additional marks on the chest and legs, possibly from falling off a rickshaw. Although initial surgery was completed at DMCH, a bullet remains lodged in a sensitive part of the brain, leaving his condition extremely critical. He is currently on life support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Doctors said that due to the severity of the injury, a hemicraniectomy procedure was performed to reduce pressure on the brain by temporarily removing a portion of the skull. Professor Dr. Syedur Rahman, Special Assistant (Health) to the Chief Adviser, stated that Hadi’s brain has been severely damaged and the next 72 hours are extremely critical.

Speaking to journalists at Evercare Hospital around 9:30 pm on Friday, Dr. Syedur Rahman said that Hadi’s condition is grave, with extensive brain damage. He described the injury as a “massive brain injury,” noting that the bullet entered above the left ear and exited from the right side, affecting the brainstem.

Given the risk, no further medical intervention will be attempted at this stage. Hadi is currently on mechanical ventilation, and doctors are unable to provide any assurance of recovery, though signs of life remain.

According to eyewitnesses and police officials, the shooting occurred at approximately 2:25 pm in front of DR Tower on Box Culvert Road in Bijoynagar. At the time, Hadi was traveling by rickshaw as part of his election campaign for the Dhaka-8 constituency.

A companion riding in the rickshaw behind him reported that two assailants arrived on a motorcycle from behind and fired at close range at Hadi while his rickshaw was in motion.

Panic spread across the area as people scattered. The precision of the attack suggests it was carried out by trained shooters. Hadi was rescued in an unconscious and bleeding state and rushed to DMCH by passersby and supporters.

Witnesses stated that the attackers followed Hadi’s battery-powered rickshaw from Fakirapul toward Bijoynagar.

The pillion rider on the motorcycle was wrapped in a black shawl, concealing his hands. When the motorcycle drew close, the attacker pulled out a firearm from under the shawl and opened fire at close range before fleeing toward Bijoynagar.

Security personnel from nearby buildings initially mistook the sound for a tire burst, but soon realized a shooting had taken place. Hadi was quickly transported to the hospital by rickshaw.

Hospital sources said that upon arrival, Hadi suffered cardiac arrest and went into shock. Doctors managed to stabilize his heartbeat and blood pressure through CPR, but CT scans confirmed the bullet’s presence in a highly sensitive area of the brain, complicating his condition.

A special medical board of neurosurgeons worked to save him, and scans indicate that bullet fragments may still be lodged in the brain. He remains unconscious under intensive care and life support, and long-term treatment and rehabilitation may be required if he survives.

Police have seized footage from six CCTV cameras at the scene and are analyzing them closely. The footage shows two helmeted riders on a motorcycle following the rickshaw from behind, with the pillion rider firing the shot at close range.

Efforts are underway to identify the motorcycle’s license plate. Law enforcement officials believe the attackers had been tracking Hadi for some time and that the assault was premeditated.

Investigations have also revealed that two young men were seen suspiciously loitering around Hadi prior to the attack, possibly linked to a hired killer group. Additionally, a man seen in a viral video—who claimed to be a former RAB employee and had promised to ensure Hadi’s security was absent on the day of the attack, raising further suspicion. He is currently under surveillance.

Immediately after the attack, police, RAB, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), and the army arrived at the scene. CCTV footage from DR Tower was collected, and the area was cordoned off with yellow tape for forensic examination. Blood samples were collected from three locations to preserve evidence.

Inspector Abdur Rashid told reporters that all law enforcement and intelligence agencies are jointly working to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

About a month before the attack, on November 14, Hadi had posted on Facebook that he and his family had received death threats from at least 30 foreign phone numbers, including threats of killing, sexual violence against his wife, and arson. In that post, he wrote: “If one Hadi is killed, Allah will create millions more Hadis on this land of Tawhid.”