Sharif Osman Hadi, a leading figure of Bangladesh’s 2024 student-led uprising that brought down former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, died on December 18, 2025, a week after being shot by unidentified assailants in Dhaka. The 32-year-old’s death has sparked violent protests across the capital and other cities, with demonstrators clashing with police and setting vehicles on fire near the Indian High Commission.

Hadi was attacked on December 12 near a mosque in Dhaka’s Paltan area while returning in a battery-powered rickshaw, shortly after announcing his intention to contest the Dhaka-8 seat as an independent candidate in the February elections. Masked gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire, hitting him in the head and ear and leaving him critically injured. After initial treatment in Dhaka, he was flown to Singapore for advanced medical care, where doctors later declared him dead despite intensive efforts. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus termed the loss “irreparable” and ordered the repatriation of Hadi’s body for burial amid national mourning.

Originally from Jhalokhati district, Hadi rose to prominence as a spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, the student platform that spearheaded the mass protests ending Hasina’s 15-year rule following deadly clashes over quota reforms. He was known for calling for a ban on the Awami League, leading marches on government institutions, and promoting controversial ideas such as a “Greater Bangladesh” map that questioned Indian borders. These positions made him a polarizing figure, particularly after Hasina fled to India. Although Yunus’s interim administration later imposed curbs on his group, Hadi’s move toward independent electoral politics reflected lingering youth discontent in the post-uprising period.

His killing has reignited public anger, with students and supporters demanding justice and the immediate arrest of those responsible. At least four people were injured during clashes near the Indian mission, after which police released images of suspects and announced a reward of five million taka. Yunus has pledged to continue democratic reforms and warned against violence ahead of the elections, even as concerns grow about possible destabilization by what authorities describe as anti-democratic elements. The episode underscores the lingering volatility of the 2024 movement and highlights the fragile nature of Bangladesh’s ongoing political transition.