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Published : 14 Dec 2025, 02:09 AM
Hours after Sharif Osman bin Hadi, convenor of Inqilab Moncho, was shot, images of a suspected attacker, along with names and details, began circulating on the internet.
Although no official statement was issued on Friday, police on Saturday shared the individual’s photo and urged the public to help track him down urgently.
As the day passed into night, police confirmed that operations were under way at “all possible locations” in search of the suspect.
Mohammad Salauddin Shikdar, deputy commissioner of the Motijheel Division of the Detective Branch, said: “Our teams are working.”
Hadi, an independent election hopeful in the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot on Friday afternoon in front of the Bijoynagar Water Tank in Dhaka. The assailant, riding on the back of a moving motorcycle, fired at Hadi while he was in a rickshaw.
The bullet struck him in the head.
Hadi was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. After undergoing one surgery there, he was transferred to Evercare Hospital.
The medical board overseeing his treatment has described his condition as still “critical”.
Just an hour after releasing the official photo, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Sazzat Ali expressed hope that the prime suspect could be brought under the law “soon”.
“We are searching, we are looking for the main suspect. It has not even been 24 hours yet. Hopefully, we will [nab him]. We seek the cooperation of the public,” he said.
Following his statement, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced a reward of Tk 5 million for information leading to the capture of Hadi’s shooter.
Late at night, an official involved in the investigation said police had conducted operations at more than five locations in pursuit of the main suspect.
“The exact location of the individual has not yet been confirmed,” the official added.
When asked about the suspect, the official said: “Identifying a suspect does not mean the attacker can be caught immediately; we are making every effort.”
He also confirmed that the Rapid Action Battalion, intelligence units, and other law-enforcing agencies were conducting coordinated operations to apprehend the suspected assailant and any accomplices involved.
PHOTO, REWARD
People close to Hadi believe the attacker had earlier been involved in election campaigning with him.
Several campaign photographs showing two individuals are now being cited by associates as possible leads.
Investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer wrote on Facebook that the suspect was also seen at Inqilab Center a few days ago.
“CCTV footage shows him sitting beside Hadi at Inqilab Cultural Center, participating in discussions. The suspect’s name is Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Daud Khan.”
Police said CCTV footage had been analysed to identify the suspect and urged anyone with information about him to contact law enforcers immediately.
Speaking at the Secretariat, Advisor Jahangir announced the reward, saying: “We aim to arrest the criminals quickly. No one involved will be spared, and we trust the public will fully cooperate.”
WHO IS FAISAL?
According to Saer’s post, Faisal is a former leader of the Bangladesh’s Chhatra League’s Dhaka Metropolitan unit.
Last year, he was arrested in a school extortion case.
Following his name surfacing in Hadi’s shooting, photos of Faisal Karim with former president Abdul Hamid and several Awami League and Chhatra League leaders circulated on Facebook.
Some of Faisal’s campaign photos with Hadi and at the Inqilab Cultural Center in Banglamotor are also circulating online, prompting speculation that he had been following Hadi for several days.
A review of case records shows that Faisal was an accused in an armed robbery on Oct 28 last year in a school in Adabor, where Tk 1.7 million was seized at gunpoint.
On Nov 7, he was arrested by the RAB in the area, and authorities recovered two foreign pistols, two magazines, five bullets, three mobile phones, and Tk 5,000 from him.
He secured bail from the High Court on Feb 16 in that case. His name has since emerged as the prime suspect in Hadi’s shooting.
On Saturday, speaking with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber said: “The young man who fired the shot had previously been arrested in a case. Investigate how he got bail.”
NO CASE FILED YET
As of 7pm on Saturday, no formal report had been lodged regarding the shooting, Paltan Police Station chief Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Khan said.
“We have asked the family members to come, but they have not arrived yet. Everything is ready, and the report will be lodged once they do.”
He added that the police were treating the incident with “utmost importance”, even without a case.
BORDER SECURITY
The BGB has intensified patrols and checks to prevent suspects from fleeing the country.
Extra personnel are deployed, key areas monitored, and gaps in fencing have been sealed.
Lieutenant Colonel Saifullah Siddiqui, commanding officer of the Jashore-49 BGB Battalion, said the force is maintaining the “highest level of vigilance”.
CONDITION STILL ‘CRITICAL’
Doctors treating Hadi say his condition remains critical more than 24 hours after the attack.
In a message on Saturday afternoon, Dr Md Zafor Iqbal, senior consultant and coordinator of the ICU and HDU at Evercare Hospital, confirmed that a 13-member medical board, comprising specialists from multiple departments, has been coordinating Hadi’s treatment.
The board said Hadi’s brain has sustained severe damage.
“Since surgery has been completed, management is now conservative. All support measures must continue under strict adherence to brain protection protocols. A repeat brain CT scan may be conducted if his condition stabilises,” it said.
The board said fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate were due to a brain stem injury. Support for blood pressure will continue as needed, and a team is on standby to insert a temporary pacemaker if the heart rate drops.
Hadi has also sustained lung injuries, with a small amount of blood continuing to drain through the chest tube. Ventilator support is being maintained to prevent infection or development of ARDS.
The board added that his kidney function has returned and fluid balance is being carefully maintained. Coagulopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation, previously observed, are improving under continuous monitoring and transfusions.
