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Published : 20 Dec 2025, 01:34 PM
Large crowds have gathered at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka to attend the funeral prayers of slain political activist Sharif Osman bin Hadi, whose coffin was brought to the area ahead of his burial.
Hadi, the convenor of Inqilab Moncho, was shot earlier this month and died in Singapore while undergoing treatment.
Under heavy security, an ambulance carrying his body entered the parliament complex through the Asad Gate shortly after 1pm on Saturday. Army personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members and police were deployed across the area.
The funeral prayers were scheduled for 2pm, to be led by Hadi’s elder brother, Abu Bakar Siddique. He is to be buried beside the grave of Bangladesh’s national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam.
From early morning, mourners arrived in groups at Manik Mia Avenue. By early afternoon, the wide thoroughfare in front of Parliament was filled with people.
Some in the crowd wore the national flag around their heads or shoulders, while others chanted slogans demanding justice for Hadi’s killing.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police said around 1,000 officers equipped with body-worn cameras were stationed in the area to monitor the situation and maintain order.
Entry to the area was being managed through the Khamarbari roundabout, where security checks were carried out. Police said the scale of the gathering made screening challenging.
Inqilab Moncho had earlier asked supporters to display only the national flag at the funeral prayers. In a Facebook post, the platform said Hadi’s family had requested full cooperation to ensure the ceremony passed peacefully.
Earlier in the day, Hadi’s body was taken from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Authorities have asked those attending the funeral not to carry bags or heavy items. Dhaka Metropolitan Police said traffic would remain suspended from Khejur Bagan Crossing to Manik Mia Avenue because of the expected large turnout.
Saturday is being observed as a day of state mourning following Hadi’s death, with the national flag flown at half-mast and special prayers held at places of worship.
Hadi, who had announced plans to run as an independent for the Dhaka-8 seat in the upcoming election, was shot at close range on Dec 12 while travelling by rickshaw in the capital's Bijoynagar area. Police said two assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition and later transferred to a private hospital in the capital, where he was treated in intensive care. On Dec 15, he was flown by air ambulance to Singapore for advanced treatment, but died there on Thursday.
His death has sparked protests and unrest across the country, prompting heightened security measures in the capital, including the deployment of BGB
