Funeral prayers for student leader and Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi were held on Saturday at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in Dhaka amid tight security, as senior government officials, political leaders and thousands of mourners gathered to pay their final respects.
The janaza was held at around 2:30 pm and was attended by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, members of the Advisory Council, leaders of various political parties, and a large number of students and supporters. Following the prayers, it was announced that Hadi would be buried near the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.
Addressing mourners before the funeral prayer, Chief Adviser Yunus said, “We have not come today to bid you farewell. You remain within our hearts; you remain in the hearts of all Bangladeshis.”
During the ceremony, Hadi’s family members and representatives of Inqilab Mancha reiterated their demand for the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible for his killing.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, thousands of people, including the interim head of government, attended the funeral. Sharif Osman Hadi was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka on December 12. He was later transferred to Singapore for advanced medical treatment on December 15, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Hadi’s body was flown back from Singapore to Dhaka on Friday.
Meanwhile, a nationwide day of mourning is being observed across Bangladesh on Saturday to protest the killing of the student leader, with calls for justice echoing from political groups, student organizations and civil society.
