Was Osman Hadi's Killing Used To Fan Anti-India Sentiment? CNN-News18 Decodes

Last Updated:December 29, 2025, 18:52 IST

As per sources, Osman Hadi criticised Awami League, and challenged the BNP leadership, making him politically unpredictable ahead of 2026 polls.

Sharif Osman Hadi died while undergoing treatment in Singapore, days after he was shot in the head in Dhaka. (File)

Top intelligence sources have told CNN-News18 that the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of Inquilab Mancha and one of the organisers of the July uprising, was used to mobilise street protests and fuel agitation against India, rather than being the result of an ideological rivalry.

As per sources, Hadi was no longer aligned with any single political party or political patron. As a spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, he had criticised the Awami League, challenged the BNP leadership and refused backing from Jamaat, making him politically unpredictable ahead of Bangladesh’s 2026 elections.

Sources told CNN-News18 that Hadi’s death helped street mobilisation, media intimidation, and justification for emergency-style governance. Various intel inputs suggested that many political parties had begun viewing the student leader as disruptive by late 2025.

The main shooter, identified as Faisal Karim Masud, a former Chhatra League leader, and bike rider Alamgir Sheikh, were clearly involved in the killing. As per sources, Faisal was part of an internal network within Hadi’s own ecosystem, indicating political infiltration rather than ideological rivalry.

No weapon recovery has yet been publicly disclosed. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has said the investigation is nearing completion, but has also admitted that the mastermind behind the killing remains at large.

Bangladesh Police alleged that the suspects fled to India via Meghalaya and have sought their extradition. However, intelligence sources said that there was no CCTV footage, border sensor data or telecom evidence to substantiate the claim that the suspects entered India.

The India-linked allegation surfaced after protests and riots had already broken out, raising questions about the timing of the narrative. Intelligence sources suggested that the India angle may have been introduced to divert attention and protect possible Jamaat-linked associates.

On Sunday, the DMP said the suspects crossed into India through the Haluaghat border area of Bangladesh and later travelled to Tura in Meghalaya.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) rejected claims by DMP, saying no such incident had taken place.

The BSF said that there had been no illegal cross-border movement in the Meghalaya sector and that no arrests or interceptions had been made. It described the reports as false, fabricated and misleading.

Inspector General OP Upadhyay, head of the BSF in Meghalaya, said there was no evidence to support the claims. He added that Meghalaya Police had also denied reports that the suspects were arrested after entering India. He pointed out contradictions in statements made by Bangladeshi officials and questioned the credibility of the reports.

Osman Hadi’s Assassination

Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of Inquilab Mancha and one of the organisers of the July uprising, died while undergoing treatment in Singapore, days after he was shot in the head in Dhaka. He was shot on December 12 and had been in critical condition since.

Hadi was linked to the anti-Sheikh Hasina platform Inqilab Moncho. He was preparing to contest the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad elections as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency.

Inqilab Moncho gained attention during last year’s July uprising, which later led to the removal of Sheikh Hasina from power.

Following his death, violent protests erupted in Bangladesh. Media houses, cultural centres and political offices were attacked. A Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and burnt to death in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. After thrashing and killing Das, the mob hung his body from a tree and set it on fire. Meanwhile, the mob that encircled him in Bhaluka, many of whom he knew, took out their smartphones to record the spectacle.

Meanwhile, some youth leaders were also reported to have made provocative anti-India statements. In recent weeks, Bangladeshi security forces have had to stop protesters from marching towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Last week, a mob also pelted the Indian Assistant High Commission building in Chittagong with stones.

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