Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of Dhaka on Saturday to mourn the death of Bangladesh student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, as the nation held a massive funeral and a day of state mourning for the slain activist. Hadi’s funeral drew huge crowds to the South Plaza of the National Parliament and later to the Dhaka University campus, where he was laid to rest beside the grave of the country’s national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Sharif Osman Hadi was a prominent spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho platform and played a visible role in the youth-led uprising that helped end the long rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. On December 12th, he was shot in Dhaka while campaigning and was later airlifted to Singapore for treatment. He died of his injuries on December 18th.
Funeral prayers began in the afternoon at the Parliament complex with thousands of mourners and senior political figures, including Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in attendance. After the prayer service, the funeral procession moved toward Dhaka University amid tight security. Many people carried flags and chanted slogans honoring Hadi’s memory, reflecting deep emotion and widespread public attention.
The government declared a national day of mourning and flew flags at half-mast across official buildings. Hadi’s death has sparked protests and unrest in parts of the country, with calls for accountability for his killing. Supporters and ordinary citizens alike have expressed grief and respect for his role as a youth activist and political figure at a moment of intense political change in Bangladesh.
