A daylight shooting in Dhaka has left radical Islamist leader Sharif Osman Hadi critically injured, just hours after he shared a controversial social media post showing a map of a so-called “Greater Bangladesh” that included parts of eastern India. The attack has triggered political reactions and raised fresh questions about security in the run-up to Bangladesh’s national elections.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon (13th December) in Dhaka’s busy Paltan area. Hadi, who is an independent MP aspirant from the Dhaka-8 constituency and a spokesperson of the Islamist outfit Inqilab Moncho, was shot around 2:25 pm while travelling on a rickshaw along Box Culvert Road, between DR Tower and the Baitus Salam Jame Mosque.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials, CCTV footage shows a motorcycle approaching Hadi’s rickshaw from behind. The bike came alongside the rickshaw, and the pillion rider fired at Hadi at close range. Both attackers were wearing helmets and escaped within seconds after opening fire.
Another Inqilab Moncho activist, Md Rafi, who was travelling in another rickshaw behind Hadi, said they were heading towards the High Court area after Friday prayers when the shooting took place near Bijoynagar. He said the attackers fired suddenly and fled before anyone could react.
Hadi was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 2:40 pm and later shifted to a private hospital, Evercare Hospital, for further treatment. Doctors said he suffered a bullet injury to the head, along with wounds to his chest and leg. The leg injury is believed to have occurred when he fell from the rickshaw after being shot. He reportedly underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition.
Controversial ‘Greater Bangladesh’ post
The attack came a day after Hadi shared a provocative Facebook post on Friday, 12th December, featuring a map of “Greater Bangladesh.” The map showed not only Bangladesh but also parts of eastern India, making the post highly controversial. The timing of the shooting, so soon after the post and just a day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th national elections, has drawn attention.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed concern over the incident and directed law enforcement agencies to carry out a thorough and swift investigation to identify all those involved and bring them to justice.
The government has declared a reward of Tk 50 lakh for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the attempted assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent MP candidate from Dhaka-8 and spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho.
