Hadi returns home in a coffin; to be laid to rest beside Nazrul today

The body of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi was flown back to Bangladesh on Friday evening, a day after he died in Singapore while undergoing treatment for gunshot wounds sustained during election campaigning.

The coffin arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 5:48pm aboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-585, which departed Singapore’s Changi International Airport at 2:03pm Bangladesh time. The arrival was confirmed by Muhammad Kawsar Mahmud, assistant director (public relations) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

Leaders from across the political spectrum stood in silence beside the coffin at the airport to pay their respects. Among them were BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman, National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah, DUCSU Vice-President Shadik Kayem, and senior leaders of Inqilab Moncho.

After the completion of formalities, Hadi’s body was taken under tight security to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital, reaching there around 6:45pm. It was kept at the hospital mortuary overnight.

The coffin was brought out through Gate No. 8 of the airport amid heavy security. The entire airport area was placed under a strict security cordon, with members of the army, police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar deployed in large numbers. All entrants were searched as people from different parts of the country gathered to pay their last respects.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman said the airline had taken “all necessary steps” to repatriate the body “with dignity and without any difficulty”.

Airport police station sub-inspector Iftekhar Islam said additional law enforcement personnel were deployed at Gate No. 8 due to the arrival of many VIPs, while extra security measures were also in place at the VIP gate.

BGB further reinforced security in and around the Dhaka airport and the Jamuna area. BGB Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam confirmed that security had also been tightened around the Heart Institute mortuary.

In a Facebook post, Inqilab Moncho said Hadi’s namaz-e-janaza would be held after Zohr prayers on Saturday at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka. In line with family wishes, he will be buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The organisation said the vehicle carrying the body left the airport for the Heart Institute mortuary around 6pm and urged supporters to maintain discipline and pray for Hadi, noting that there would be no opportunity to view the body. It also said that, instead of Friday as announced earlier, the body would be taken in a procession to the Central Mosque of Dhaka University on Saturday.

Students and supporters, the statement added, would continue their movement peacefully to prevent any group from instigating violence.

Separately, the chief adviser’s press wing said another namaz-e-janaza would be held at 2pm on Saturday at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building. Attendees have been requested not to carry bags or heavy items, and flying drones around the parliament area will be strictly prohibited during the event.

A first janaza had been scheduled for Friday morning at The Angullia Mosque in Singapore. However, the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore said the prayer could not be held due to the absence of permission from the Singaporean authorities.

In a statement, the High Commission said Hadi died at Singapore General Hospital on Thursday night and expressed regret over the cancellation of the janaza, urging expatriates to respect local laws and pray for the departed soul.

Hadi was shot on December 12 during election campaigning in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He was struck in the head by gunfire from a moving motorcycle and was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being transferred to Evercare Hospital. On December 14, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries.