Hadi passes away; state mourning to be observed on Saturday: CA

Sharif Osman Hadi, a fearless frontline fighter of the July Uprising and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha, passed away tonight at a hospital in Singapore after battling for his life for six days.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced the death in a televised address to the nation, saying Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan informed him of the development over the phone shortly before the speech.

“Today, I come before you with heartbreaking news. Sharif Osman Hadi is no longer among us,” Prof Yunus said. He prayed that Almighty Allah would accept Hadi, whom he described as an immortal soldier in the struggle against fascism and hegemony, as a martyr.

State-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) and BTV News broadcast the address simultaneously at 11:30pm.

Hadi, also an aspiring independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot on December 12 while travelling in a battery-run auto-rickshaw in the Paltan area of the capital. Prof Yunus expressed profound shock and sorrow at his untimely death, calling it an irreparable loss to the country’s political and democratic landscape.

“I pray for the eternal peace of his departed soul and extend my deepest condolences to his wife, family members, relatives and colleagues,” the Chief Adviser said, adding that the government will take responsibility for the welfare of Hadi’s wife and their only child.

Prof Yunus announced a one-day state mourning on Saturday. On the day, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions, educational establishments, public and private buildings, and Bangladesh missions abroad.

He also said special prayers seeking forgiveness for Hadi’s soul would be held in mosques across the country after Jumma prayers tomorrow, and similar prayers would be organised at places of worship of other religions. He urged citizens to participate in the prayers.

The Chief Adviser expressed special gratitude to the Singaporean government, particularly Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, noting that he personally oversaw Hadi’s treatment and regularly provided updates.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to justice, Prof Yunus said all those involved in the brutal killing would be swiftly brought to trial and handed the maximum punishment. “No leniency will be shown,” he said.

Describing Hadi as a young leader driven by revolutionary spirit, Prof Yunus said he embodied protest, patriotism, patience and determination. He urged citizens to remain calm and restrained, allowing law enforcement agencies to carry out investigations professionally, and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the rule of law.

Calling Hadi an enemy of “defeated fascist forces,” the Chief Adviser said attempts to silence revolutionary voices through violence would fail, stressing that threats, terrorism and bloodshed could not halt the country’s democratic progress.

Prof Yunus said Bangladesh is now in the final phase of democratic transition and that Shaheed Hadi was an integral part of that journey. He noted that Hadi had aspired to play an active role in building a new Bangladesh by contesting the upcoming elections, but his dream remained unfulfilled.

“The responsibility of realising his dream now rests on the shoulders of the entire nation,” he said, urging people to move forward with patience, courage and foresight to defeat forces opposed to democracy and elections.

In his closing remarks, Prof Yunus called on citizens to draw strength from Hadi’s ideals and sacrifices, avoid rumours and provocations, and remain united in the pursuit of democracy, justice and people’s rights.

“This will be our true tribute to Shaheed Hadi,” he said.