Prime Accused in Bangladeshi Student Leader Murder Claims Innocence from Dubai, Contradicts India Escape Allegations

In a new development in the high-profile murder case of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, the prime suspect, Faisal Karim Masud, has released a video message denying any involvement in the killing, asserting that he is currently in Dubai and accusing elements linked to Jamaat-e-Islami of orchestrating the attack.

The undated video, whose authenticity remains unverified independently, directly challenges earlier claims by Bangladesh police that Masud and another accused, Alamgir Sheikh, had fled to India via the Meghalaya border following the December 12 shooting.

Introducing himself in the recording, Masud stated, "I am Faisal Karim Masud. I categorically deny any role in Hadi's murder. The accusations against me are entirely fabricated and part of a conspiracy." He explained that fear of false implication compelled him to leave Bangladesh for Dubai, despite possessing a valid five-year multiple-entry UAE visa.

Masud acknowledged visiting Hadi's office prior to the incident but described their relationship as purely professional. As the owner of an IT firm and a former Ministry of Finance employee, he said he met Hadi to discuss job prospects, paying him 500,000 taka in advance and additional donations for various programs, including one just days before the attack.

Pointing fingers elsewhere, Masud alleged, "Hadi was a creation of Jamaat, and this act was carried out by Jamaati forces. Neither I nor my brother were involved in the motorcycle used in the attack—we have been deliberately framed."

He also condemned the alleged harassment and torture of his innocent family members, calling it inhumane.

A purported image of Masud's UAE visa has circulated widely on social media, further fueling online discussions.

Bangladeshi authorities had previously maintained that the two key suspects crossed into India through the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh district, entering Meghalaya with local assistance. However, Indian officials, including the Border Security Force and Meghalaya Police, have firmly rejected these assertions as baseless, stating no evidence of such border crossings exists.

New Delhi has dismissed the escape-to-India narrative as a fabricated attempt by extremist groups to mislead the public.

Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old prominent figure in the 2024 student-led protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina's government and spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho, was fatally shot in the head by masked assailants on December 12 in Dhaka. He succumbed to his injuries on December 18 in a Singapore hospital.

His death triggered widespread violence, including arson attacks on major newspaper offices like Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, cultural institutions, and the lynching of a Hindu factory worker in Mymensingh.

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