Bangladesh mourns slain activist as tensions rise ahead of elections

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Dhaka on Saturday for the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent Bangladeshi activist whose death has intensified political tensions in the country ahead of February elections.

Hadi, who played a significant role in last year’s political uprising that ended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, died Thursday in a Singapore hospital from gunshot wounds sustained in a December 12 attack in Dhaka.

Security forces maintained a heavy presence as funeral prayers were held outside Bangladesh’s Parliament complex on a day officially declared for national mourning. The activist’s body had returned to Bangladesh the previous night.

Bangladesh police have identified suspects in Hadi’s shooting, stating that the perpetrator likely fled to India, where Hasina has been in exile since August 2024. This development has triggered a diplomatic row between the neighboring countries, with both summoning each other’s envoys this week.

Mourners carrying Bangladesh flags chanted slogans such as “We will be Hadi, we will be fighting decades after decades” and “We will not let Hadi’s blood go in vain.” Representatives from Inqilab Moncho, the cultural group for which Hadi served as spokesperson, announced he would be buried on the Dhaka University campus beside Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam—a location that highlights his significance to many Bangladeshis.

News of Hadi’s death sparked violence Thursday evening, with protesters attacking and burning offices of two leading national newspapers. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who leads Bangladesh’s interim government, has called for calm during this volatile period.

Hadi had been a vocal critic of both India and former Prime Minister Hasina. He had planned to run as an independent candidate in a major Dhaka constituency in the upcoming February elections, which are seen as crucial for Bangladesh’s return to democratic governance after months of political upheaval.

Bangladesh is navigating a challenging political transition under Yunus’s interim leadership. The electoral landscape has shifted dramatically following Hasina’s departure, creating a power vacuum that various political factions are vying to fill.

The country’s political scene is dominated by two major parties: Hasina’s Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by her longtime rival, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party with controversial ties to the country’s 1971 independence war, is working to expand its political influence by forming alliances in the absence of Hasina and her supporters.

Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity related to the violent crackdown on protesters during her final months in power. Despite repeated requests from the Yunus government for her extradition, India has not responded to these appeals, further straining relations between the neighboring countries.

The political atmosphere in Bangladesh remains tense as the country prepares for its first post-Hasina elections. Hadi’s assassination has become a rallying point for those who supported the uprising against Hasina’s government, while also raising concerns about political violence in the lead-up to the February polls.

For Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million people, the coming months represent a critical juncture in its democratic journey as it attempts to move beyond decades of political polarization and establish a more stable governance system. The international community is closely watching these developments, particularly how the interim government handles security concerns and ensures a free and fair electoral process.