30/01/2026
Bangladesh on the Edge: Political Murder, Organized Violence, and the Role of Sheikh Hasina
Dhaka—The attempted assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Mancha and a prospective candidate for Dhaka-8, is not an isolated incident. It is the latest symptom of a deeply entrenched system of political violence, meticulously planned and executed by party-affiliated groups under the umbrella of the ruling establishment.
Police investigations have identified three suspects directly linked to the attack. The alleged gunman, Faisal Karim Masud alias Rahul, a leader of the student wing of the ruling Awami League, fired at Hadi from a motorcycle driven by Alamgir Sheikh. Rubel, an activist of the Swechchhasebak League in Adabor, reportedly participated in reconnaissance before the attack.
According to police records, this was a premeditated assassination attempt, aimed at destabilizing the upcoming national election and undermining the electoral process. The attack was financed and coordinated, not spontaneous. Bank cheques have been seized, tracing the financial network behind the operation. The recorded testimony of one suspect’s father further confirms that this was a structured, organized effort, not the work of isolated individuals.
The implications are chilling. Investigators suggest that, even after leaving the country, Sheikh Hasina’s political network continued to orchestrate violent activities, directing loyal factions of student and party groups to maintain control through intimidation and bloodshed. This is consistent with a pattern of political suppression that has marked her leadership: targeted killings, organized attacks, and systematic use of fear to neutralize opponents.
The shooting of Osman Hadi is part of a broader strategy: to create chaos, manipulate public perception, and pressure political opponents. Police and local sources indicate that the perpetrators were acting under explicit instructions and with the backing of entrenched party networks.
The evidence, while still under investigation, paints a damning picture. It is no longer plausible to separate the violence from those at the top. The political system itself has become a killing apparatus, where power is preserved not through democratic process but through terror. Those responsible for enabling this environment, including its leadership, cannot escape accountably.
bility.
Bangladesh now stands at a crossroads. Until the nation confronts the machinery of political violence—names, networks, and methods—the cycle will continue. The attempted assassination of Osman Hadi is a stark reminder: democracy cannot survive in a system built on bullets and fear.
