Bangladesh Candidate Sharif Osman Hadi Shot in Dhaka as Campaign Launch Turns Violent

Authorities opened an urgent probe into the shooting of the independent candidate during his first campaign stop.

Overview

Police said three assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at 2:25 pm near DR Tower on Box Culvert Road in Bijoynagar and fled the scene.
Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader and spokesperson of Inqilab Manch, was rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and remains on life support with a bullet lodged in his head.
No arrests have been announced, and investigators are working to identify the attackers.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus condemned the attack as unacceptable in an election environment and directed law enforcement to carry out a swift, comprehensive investigation.
The shooting occurred a day after the election schedule set a February 12 parliamentary vote, intensifying concerns over pre‑poll security as Inqilab Manch’s rise and the Awami League’s earlier disbandment reshape the political field.