Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi
Md. Joynal Abdin
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB)
Executive Director, Online Training Academy (OTA)
Secretary General, Brazil Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BBCCI)
Sharif Osman Hadi (1993–2025) was a prominent Bangladeshi youth activist and cultural leader, celebrated posthumously as a Shaheed (martyr) for his role in the 2024 July Revolution[1][2]. As co-founder and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha (“Platform for Revolution”), Hadi emerged as a powerful voice for democracy, national sovereignty, and youth empowerment in Bangladesh[1][3]. His assassination in December 2025 triggered mass protests and nationwide unrest, transforming him into an enduring symbol of resistance and sacrifice[4][2].
Childhood
Sharif Osman Hadi was born on 30 June 1993 in Nalchity Upazila of the Jhalokathi District in southern Bangladesh[5]. His father, Maulana Abdul Hadi, was a respected madrasa teacher and local imam, and his mother, Taslima Hadi, was a homemaker[5]. Hadi was the youngest of six children and grew up immersed in a religious environment[5]. From an early age, he displayed intellectual curiosity and was active in his community, laying the foundation for his later engagement with politics and social issues[6][5].
Academic Life
Hadi excelled academically in his youth. He completed his higher secondary education (Alim examination) at Jhalakathi N. S. Kamil Madrasa[7]. In 2010 he enrolled in the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka[7]. He was known to be an engaged student and became involved in campus literary and cultural circles. He even published Bengali poetry – for example, his work “The Eastern Sky Turned Red Amaranth” was released in early 2024[8][7]. This broad intellectual background helped shape his skills as an educator and orator.
Professional Life
Before entering full-time political activism, Hadi worked as an educator. He joined the private University of Scholars in Dhaka as a lecturer in the Department of Business Studies[9][10]. In this capacity he taught undergraduates in business and economics, while remaining active in writing and cultural projects. Hadi also volunteered as a teacher in community education programs, reflecting his commitment to social development. These experiences as a teacher helped him develop his communication and organizing skills, which later defined his political leadership[10][9].
Political Life
After the July protests, Hadi became an influential figure in Bangladesh’s opposition politics. He co-founded the Inqilab Mancha (Revolution Platform), a youth-led alliance that pledged to build a “justice-based state” and to oppose all forms of domination[11][12]. Hadi’s ideology combined fervent nationalism with a religious tone: he consistently condemned what he described as “fascism” under the Awami League government and demanded constitutional action to ban that party from future elections[12][13]. He called for a broad anti–Awami League coalition, even explicitly inviting parties like the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Andolan to join a “National government” against the ruling party[14][12]. In his speeches and social media posts, Hadi frequently attacked entrenched corruption and the influence of foreign powers, arguing for a generational shift away from old-style politics.
Role in the July 2024 Revolution
Hadi played a frontline role in Bangladesh’s July 2024 student-led uprising. He was a resident of the Rampura neighborhood in Dhaka and served as a local coordinator during the mass protests[15][2]. Eyewitnesses report that he organized student gatherings, led marches, and demanded accountability for the violence that accompanied the movement[15][16]. After the protests, he emerged as one of the most visible young leaders of the uprising – often called a “July warrior” campaigning tirelessly for justice for fallen protesters and against the incumbent government[16][2]. This prominence helped elevate him from a local activist to a national figure virtually overnight.
Anti-Indian Stance
A defining feature of Hadi’s politics was his outspoken critique of India’s role in Bangladesh. He framed the struggle for democracy as linked to ending what he called “Indian hegemony” over his country[17]. Hadi argued that the previous government owed its stability to New Delhi’s support, and he urged Bangladeshis to achieve a “generational rupture” from that foreign influence[17]. Under his leadership, the Inqilab Mancha campaigned for the formal banning of the Awami League and for restructuring treaties with India to secure what he termed “justice-based sovereignty” for Bangladesh[18]. He even circulated a controversial “Greater Bangladesh” map that incorporated parts of India into Bangladesh, highlighting his nationalist rhetoric[18][19]. After his death, some supporters hailed him as a martyr of this cause for instance, his own platform declared that “in the struggle against Indian hegemony, Allah has accepted the great revolutionary Osman Hadi as a martyr”[18][20].
Popular Messages
- On oppression: Hadi often spoke forcefully against what he labeled oppression. For example, he once denounced Bangladesh’s political climate as “fascism” and graphically described recent atrocities: “Fascism has been established in Bangladesh… our brothers and sisters were shot at from helicopters, their hearts torn apart.”[13].
- On extremism: Criticizing slogans used by the regime, he highlighted their brutality with the words: “We don’t want justice, we want execution.”[13]. (He was condemning the choice of violence over due process.)
- On accountability: After Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal sentenced former premier Sheikh Hasina to death, Hadi praised the ruling as setting a global example: “This verdict… has set a precedent for the entire world.”[21]. This statement underscored his radical stance against the ousted leader.
- On sovereignty: In messages rallying his followers, his platform emphasized divine support for the cause: “In the struggle against Indian hegemony, Allah has accepted the great revolutionary Osman Hadi as a martyr.”[20]. Such rhetoric wove together nationalism and faith to inspire his base.
His Assassination
On 12 December 2025, Sharif Osman Hadi was targeted in a deadly ambush. He was shot in the head by two gunmen riding a motorcycle as he left a mosque in Dhaka’s Purana Paltan area[22]. The bullet inflicted massive brain-stem damage, confirmed by doctors during emergency surgery[23]. Police quickly identified two suspects in the attack Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh – and launched a nationwide manhunt[24]. Investigators later reported that the primary suspect had fled to India, raising diplomatic tensions in the wake of the killing[24].
His Treatment
After emergency brain surgery in Dhaka, Hadi was flown to Singapore General Hospital on 15 December 2025 for specialized care[25]. Singapore authorities later announced that he had “succumbed to his injuries”[26]. The bullet wound had caused extensive damage to his brain stem[25], and he remained on life support during treatment. Over the following days, Bangladeshi and Singaporean doctors fought to stabilize him, but his condition never improved.
His Death
Despite intensive care, Hadi never recovered. On 18 December 2025 at around 9:45 pm Bangladesh time, Singapore General Hospital confirmed that he had passed away[27][26]. His death was officially announced by Inqilab Mancha and confirmed by government officials. The interim Chief Advisor declared a day of state mourning, describing Hadi’s death as “an irreparable loss for the nation”[2][27]. The entire country entered a period of profound grief and tension in response to the killing.
Namaz e Janaza
Sharif Osman Hadi’s funeral prayer was held on 20 December 2025 at the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)[28]. Tens of millions of people including government officials, opposition leaders, student activists and ordinary citizens gathered to pay their respects[28][29]. Interim Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus led the ceremony and addressed the mourners, calling the gathering a pledge to carry on Hadi’s ideals[29]. The government declared that day a state mourning holiday in Hadi’s honor[30].
Hadi’s body was then taken to Dhaka University, where he was laid to rest beside the grave of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam[31][32]. Burial at this historic site a place associated with Bangladesh’s own liberation was attended by thousands and underscored the national significance attributed to his sacrifice[31][32].
Learning from His Life
Sharif Osman Hadi’s life illustrates the power of youth-led activism and personal sacrifice in the pursuit of political change. He remained steadfast in his principles, speaking out fearlessly even at great personal risk. His leadership showed how organized protest can challenge entrenched power, that a single voice, raised courageously, can inspire a movement. As interim Chief Advisor Yunus said at the funeral, crowds pledged to “fulfil what [Hadi] stood for”[29]. Hadi’s legacy encourages future generations to defend democracy and sovereignty, and to uphold the values of independence, accountability and courage in public life.
Closing Remarks
Sharif Osman Hadi’s tragic death left an indelible mark on Bangladesh’s political landscape. Throughout his life he inspired thousands by speaking truth to power and demanding justice for ordinary citizens. His assassination became a rallying point for nationwide demands of accountability and sovereignty. Ultimately, Hadi is remembered as a Shaheed (martyr) of the July Revolution whose sacrifice has strengthened calls for democratic reform and national independence[33]. His legacy endures as a powerful symbol of courage and conviction in the face of oppression.
Sources: Details are drawn from the Wikipedia article on Osman Hadi[1][34] and from news reports (Al Jazeera, Reuters, Deccan Chronicle, Dhaka Tribune, NDTV) documenting his activism and death[22][2][25][19], among others. Each fact above is supported by the cited references.
[1] [5] [7] [8] [9] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [28] [32] [33] [34] Osman Hadi – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osman_Hadi
[2] [29] [30] [31] Bangladesh holds state funeral for slain youth leader amid tight security | Reuters
[3] [4] [20] [22] [26] Who was Sharif Osman Hadi; why is Bangladesh on fire over his death? | Elections News | Al Jazeera
[6] [10] [21] Who was Bangladeshi Radical Leader, Sharif Osman Hadi?
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/who-was-bangladeshi-radical-leader-sharif-osman-hadi-1925048
[19] Bangladesh Crisis LIVE:Who Was Osman Hadi, Anti-India Leader Behind ‘Greater Bangladesh’ Map Dies, Dhaka On Edge
[23] [24] [25] [27] Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi dies
