Massive Turnout at Funeral of Slain Bangladesh Youth Leader Sharif Osman Hadi; Buried Beside National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam

Tens of thousands of mourners, including interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, gathered in Dhaka on Saturday for the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of the 2024 student-led uprising and spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha (also known as Inqilab Moncho). The event was held amid tight security at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building on Manik Mia Avenue, following Hadi's death in a Singapore hospital.

Hadi, aged around 32, succumbed on December 18 to gunshot wounds sustained in an assassination attempt on December 12 in Dhaka's Purana Paltan area. He was shot in the head by masked assailants on a motorcycle while travelling in a rickshaw. After initial treatment in Dhaka, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he battled for six days before passing away.

In a speech before the janaza (funeral prayers), Yunus paid tribute to Hadi, saying: "We have not come here to bid you farewell. You are in our hearts, and you will remain in the hearts of all Bangladeshis as long as the country exists." Yunus described Hadi as a "fearless frontline fighter" of the July Uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and emphasised that his legacy would inspire generations.

The funeral drew leaders from various political parties, including representatives from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, alongside army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman and members of Yunus's advisory council. Saturday was declared a national day of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast across the country.

Following the prayers, led by Hadi's elder brother, the body was taken under heavy security to the Dhaka University campus, where he was buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, in line with his family's wishes.

Hadi was a key organizer of the 2024 protests and had announced his intention to contest as an independent candidate in the Dhaka-8 constituency for upcoming elections. Known for his outspoken views, including criticism of India and the Awami League, he founded Inqilab Mancha to promote cultural and political movements for a "justice-based state."

His death triggered unrest, with protests and vandalism in several cities, prompting calls for a swift investigation. During the funeral, Inqilab Mancha member Abdullah Al Jaber demanded accountability from the government regarding the killers' arrest.

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