- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 21 Dec 2025 05:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bangladesh is witnessing its sharpest political turmoil since last year’s student uprising, with the spotlight now firmly on Faisal Karim Masud, the man police say is the prime suspect in the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The assassination has triggered nationwide protests, violent attacks on media houses, and a fresh wave of anti-India rhetoric ahead of the February general elections.
Alleged Role In Sharif Osman Hadi killing
Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, a key figure of the student-led movement that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and spokesperson of the Anti-Sheikh Hasina Inqilab Mancha, was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka while launching his election campaign earlier this month. He later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Singapore.
According to Bangladeshi media reports and local journalists, Faisal Karim Masud allegedly infiltrated Hadi’s campaign before carrying out the attack. Masud is accused of opening fire while riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by another suspect, identified as Alamgir Sheikh.
Political Background and Past Record
Masud is described as a former leader of the Chhatra League, the now-banned student wing of the ousted Awami League. Investigators say his political background and past links to violent activity have made him a central figure in what authorities are calling a premeditated assassination aimed at destabilising the electoral process.
About a year ago, Masud was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a school, during which police reportedly recovered a foreign-made pistol. He was later released, a detail that has since come under sharp scrutiny amid public anger.
Chilling Messages Before Attack
Adding to the shock are reports that Masud had hinted at the impending violence hours before the shooting. Bangladeshi television channels and newspapers quoted him telling his girlfriend that something was about to happen that would “shake the entire country”. Hadi was shot shortly afterwards in broad daylight, intensifying suspicions of careful planning.
Arrests And Escape Claims
While Masud remains at large, Bangladeshi authorities have detained several people linked to him, including family members. His wife, Saheda Parvin Samia, has also been arrested. Police claim Masud may have fled across the border into India via northern Bangladesh, a claim New Delhi has not confirmed.
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The alleged escape has fuelled protests and diplomatic tensions, with demonstrators accusing India of sheltering the accused — an allegation India has rejected.
Hadi’s death has sparked violent demonstrations across Dhaka and other cities. Media offices were torched, cultural institutions vandalised, and a Hindu man was lynched in Mymensingh amid the chaos. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has vowed swift justice, calling the killing part of a larger conspiracy to derail democratic reforms.
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As Bangladesh braces for elections, the hunt for Faisal Karim Masud has become central not just to a murder investigation, but to the country’s fragile political stability.