Who was Osman Hadi? Bangladeshi student leader’s death triggers mourning, probe ordered

Bangladeshi student leader and political activist Osman Hadi has died after succumbing to critical injuries sustained in a shooting in Dhaka earlier this month. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) confirmed that Hadi passed away on December 18, 2025, despite extensive medical intervention.

Hadi was airlifted from Bangladesh to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit on December 15 following a gunshot wound to the head. According to the Singapore MFA, doctors from SGH and the National Neuroscience Institute made sustained efforts to save his life, but his condition deteriorated.

Singapore authorities said they are coordinating with the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore to repatriate Hadi’s body to Dhaka.

Critical After Assassination Attempt in Dhaka

The attack took place on December 12 when Hadi was travelling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw along Culvert Road in Dhaka’s Paltan area. Unidentified assailants opened fire, critically injuring him.

He was initially rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced neurological care.

Who Was Osman Hadi?

Osman Hadi was a prominent student leader and a key member of the anti-Sheikh Hasina political platform Inqilab Mancha. He was also an independent candidate for the upcoming February elections and was actively campaigning from the Dhaka-8 constituency at the time of the attack.

Inqilab Mancha rose to prominence during the July uprising last year, a movement that eventually led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The group has been labelled radical by authorities and was later disbanded by the interim Yunus government, which barred it from contesting national elections despite its role in the student-led protests.

Yunus Vows Probe, Declares Mourning

In an address to the nation, Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus described Hadi as a “fearless frontline fighter” of the July uprising and announced a one-day state mourning.

Calling the killing “heartbreaking,” Yunus vowed to identify and arrest those responsible for the shooting. He urged citizens to remain calm, asserting that attempts to intimidate revolutionary voices would fail.