United News of Bangladesh

Abu Bakar Siddique, the elder brother of Inquilab Moncho Sharif Osman Hadi, on Saturday (December 20, 2025) questioned the failure to arrest the killers even after seven to eight days of the shooting. “If criminals can open fire after Jum’a prayers in the heart of Dhaka and escape, there can be no greater disgrace for us as a nation,” he said while addressing thousands of mourners before the namaz-e-janaza of Hadi at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. He also demanded a quick and public trial of those responsible for the killing. Read more: Hadi laid to rest beside National Poet’s grave at DU Siddique said his younger brother had devoted his life to protecting Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty and left behind a message for the country’s people on how to safeguard the freedom. Hadi is survived by an eight-month-old child who will never know his father, he said, adding, “When the child was born, my brother asked me to choose a name reflecting revolutionary spirit and courage. I named him Firnas.” He said the family has been shattered by the loss, with their mother repeatedly losing consciousness and other siblings suffering severe trauma. He urged people to pray for Hadi’s wife and child, for his injured brother Omar Faruk who was with him during the attack and for his sister Masuma, who is undergoing treatment for severe trauma. Siddique led the janaza prayers around 2:30 pm. ‘Hadi, you’ll never be lost; no one will ever be able to forget you’: Prof Yunus Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain described Hadi as a poet and cultural activist who co-founded the Inquilab Cultural Center to help shape a new cultural narrative for the country. Inquilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al-Jaber alleged that the killing was the result of a planned conspiracy involving multiple actors. He demanded that the killers, planners and facilitators be brought to justice and urged the Home Affairs Adviser and other officials to publicly explain within 24 hours what steps have been taken so far. He also called on supporters to refrain from violence and warned against acting on any propaganda outside Inquilab Mancha’s directives, saying future programmes would be announced by the platform. Read more: Bangladesh mourns death of Osman Hadi

Bangladesh is observing the National Mourning Day on Saturday (December 20, 2025) over the death of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. The national flag has been kept at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions, educational institutions, as well as government and private buildings across the country and at Bangladesh missions abroad. The namaz-e-janaza of Hadi will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Amnesty urges accountability over Hadi murder, mob violence The government requested those wishing to attend the janaza not to carry any bags or heavy objects. It also said that flying drones in and around the parliament complex will remain completely restricted during the funeral prayers. Meanwhile, a decision has been taken to bury Hadi beside national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on the Dhaka University campus, in line with the wishes of his family, said a separate Facebook post from Inquilab Moncho’s official page. Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan. He initially underwent surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital. Read more: Jamaat calls for restraint, unity after Hadi’s death For advanced treatment, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18. The body of Hadi arrived in Dhaka on Friday evening.