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Published : 13 Dec 2025, 08:34 PM
Senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas has described how he “maintained calm and silence” when confronted by an aggressive crowd while visiting Sharif Osman bin Hadi in hospital following an attempt on the Inqilab Moncho convenor’s life.
Speaking at a protest in front of BNP’s central office in New Paltan on Saturday, Abbas said that when he arrived, those shouting hostile slogans would have dispersed at his instruction.
“Hadi is like a son to me. Hearing of him being shot was a psychological blow,” he said.
“This attack is on democracy itself. Those behind it are dark forces; their hands must be smashed,” Abbas added, denouncing the perpetrators as agents of malign influence.
Hadi, who announced his independent candidacy for Dhaka-8 in the parliamentary election, was shot in the head on Friday afternoon while riding a rickshaw.
The attacker, pillion-riding on a moving motorcycle, fired at him. Hadi was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for surgery and later transferred to Evercare Hospital for intensive care.
Abbas visited Hadi at the hospital.
He said, “The gunshot occurred at 2:15pm. By 2:30pm, posts were up on Facebook urging unity, calling for people to gather and bring bricks. This was clearly planned. When I went to the hospital, the crowd was shouting aggressively.”
Abbas emphasised his lifelong commitment to restraint: “I grew up marching Dhaka’s streets. I remained calm and silent, but had I issued an order, I would have dealt with them decisively.”
Without naming anyone, he said: “I’ve witnessed conspiracies before -- in 1971, [1986, 1990, 1991]. This group thrives on instability. Their core strength is plotting.”
He also condemned online posts suggesting Hadi had died, saying: “Over a hundred people incited mobs online. They are all members of a specific political party.” Abbas demanded the shooter’s arrest and unmasking of the party’s operatives.
“Hadi is not my electoral rival, just a competitor. He is a courageous soldier of the streets, and I hope to see him active in the election again,” Abbas said.
