Tens of Thousands Attend Funeral of Slain Bangladesh Student Leader

Image: from TRT World Now X@TRTWorldNow

By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies | December 20, 2025

DHAKA — The streets of the Bangladeshi capital were flooded with a sea of mourners on Saturday as tens of thousands gathered for the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader whose assassination has plunged the nation into a fresh wave of violent unrest.

The funeral service, held under high security at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building, followed two days of nationwide protests and arson attacks triggered by Hadi’s death in a Singapore hospital on Thursday. Police wearing body cameras were heavily deployed as the procession moved through the heart of the city.

🚨🇧🇩 MILLIONS ATTEND OSMAN HADI’S FUNERAL!!

– A tsunami of people gathered and attended the funeral of Bangladesh Gen-Z leader Osman Hadi, who was recently martyred by Indian-backed terrorists.

The people of Bangladesh want revenge. pic.twitter.com/KndXuLNeGv

— Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) December 20, 2025

A Final Farewell

Interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus delivered an emotional tribute during the state-sanctioned day of mourning. Addressing the massive crowd, Yunus vowed that the sacrifice of the 32-year-old activist would not be in vain.

“We have not come here to say goodbye,” Yunus said. “Hadi, you will not be lost. No one will ever forget you. You will remain in the hearts of all Bangladeshis as long as the country exists.”

Following the prayers, Hadi’s body was taken to Dhaka University, the epicenter of the 2024 student-led uprising. In accordance with his family’s wishes, he was buried at the university’s central mosque, beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The Assassination and Unrest

Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in the Inqilab Mancha platform, was a fierce critic of Indian influence in Bangladeshi politics and was set to contest the general elections in February. His death has significantly inflamed anti-India sentiment:

• The Attack: On December 12, masked gunmen shot Hadi as he left a Dhaka mosque. He was later airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries.

• The Aftermath: Protesters have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible. Late Thursday, mobs set fire to several buildings in Dhaka, including the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, accusing them of favoring neighboring India.

• The Allegations: Supporters, including government employees who traveled far for the prayers, claimed Hadi was targeted for his staunch opposition to foreign interference in sovereign territory.

Calls for Investigation

The assassination comes at a precarious time as Bangladesh prepares for its first elections since the 2024 revolution. International rights group Amnesty International urged the interim government on Saturday to carry out “prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial” investigations into the killing and the subsequent violence.

As the sun set over Dhaka University, the chants for justice continued to echo through the capital. For many, Hadi’s death is seen as a direct attack on the democratic ideals forged during last year’s uprising, leaving the nation on edge as the February election approaches.