Dhaka was awash with grief and defiance on Saturday as millions gathered to bid farewell to Sharif Osman Hadi, the July frontliner and spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, laid to rest after a namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, addressing the mourners in an emotionally charged speech, declared that Hadi would remain alive in the hearts of all Bangladeshis, now and for generations to come. “O dear Osman Hadi, we have not come here to bid you farewell. You are within our hearts, and as long as Bangladesh exists, you will remain there. Insha’Allah, no one can remove you,” Prof Yunus said before joining the funeral prayer, his voice carrying the weight of a nation in mourning. He recalled the waves of mourners, describing how millions from across Bangladesh—and Bangladeshis living abroad—had come together to honour Hadi’s life and legacy. “This gathering is not a farewell. It is a pledge. What you told us, we will fulfil—not only today, but across generations,” Yunus said. The Chief Adviser paid tribute to Hadi’s leadership, compassion and political vision. “Your love for humanity, your dedication to engaging with people respectfully, and your political outlook are being praised by all. We accept these as lessons to carry forward.” Hadi’s devotion to the ideals of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam resonated throughout the ceremony. Quoting the poet’s revolutionary lines from Bidrohi, Prof Yunus described Hadi’s mantra as a guiding force for the nation. “You have given us such a mantra that this nation will never forget. It will echo in our ears forever,” he said, urging Bangladeshis to hold their heads high and never bow before injustice. Highlighting Hadi’s determination to contest the upcoming elections, Yunus noted, “He showed us the true way to campaign—how to reach people, express our views with dignity, and connect with citizens respectfully. These are lessons we will carry into public life so that Hadi remains vividly alive in our actions.” Thousands lined Manik Mia Avenue, joining the janaza in a mixture of tears, chants for justice, and demands for accountability. Slogans against fascism and political hegemony reverberated through the crowd, while mourners broke down over the loss of a fearless fighter whose life was cut short. Hadi, 32, was shot on 12 December while travelling in a battery-run auto-rickshaw in Dhaka’s Paltan area and died after six days on life support. His elder brother, Maulana Dr Abu Bakar Siddique, led the namaz-e-janaza, while Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain read out his biography. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Zaber also addressed the mourners. As the coffin was lowered, the streets of Dhaka reflected both grief and resistance—a nation honouring a hero while demanding justice for a life taken too soon. Hadi’s legacy, Chief Adviser Yunus said, would not fade: “You will not be lost. No one will ever forget you. You will remain with us for ages, reminding us again and again of your mantra.” The janaza of Sharif Osman Hadi was not only a farewell; it was a solemn promise that his ideals and vision will continue to guide Bangladesh, even in the face of grief, anger, and uncertainty.

The United Nations has strongly condemned the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability through a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation in line with international human rights standards. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his concern in a statement released on Friday. According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres also called on all parties in Bangladesh to exercise maximum restraint as the country prepares for parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2026. In his remarks, Guterres emphasised the urgent need to “refrain from violence, reduce tensions and exercise maximum restraint in order to preserve a peaceful electoral environment.” The Secretary-General’s statement came in the wake of Hadi’s targeted killing on 12 December, which has sparked nationwide unrest and heightened political tensions. The killing also drew attention from the UN Human Rights Office. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was “deeply troubled” by Hadi’s death. In a statement issued from Geneva, Türk warned that “retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,” echoing the Secretary-General’s calls for accountability and urging Bangladeshi authorities to take swift and transparent action against those responsible. Guterres emphasised the urgent need to “refrain from violence, reduce tensions and exercise maximum restraint in order to preserve a peaceful electoral environment.” Human rights experts highlighted that politically motivated attacks on opposition figures not only threaten the democratic process but also endanger civil liberties and the rule of law. “Ensuring a thorough investigation into Hadi’s killing is essential to maintain public trust in Bangladesh’s electoral and judicial institutions,” Türk added. The UN’s response underscores international concern over the deteriorating security and political climate in Bangladesh following Hadi’s assassination. Analysts note that the timing of the killing, just months before the national elections, has amplified fears of violence, intimidation, and political destabilisation. As Bangladesh approaches its elections, the UN’s call for accountability and restraint sends a strong signal to both government authorities and political actors: the path to a free and fair electoral process must be protected, and the memory of Hadi’s activism preserved through justice rather than revenge.

The chiefs of three services – Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Air Force– will meet Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday. “The meeting will be held at 12:00pm at Nirbachan Bhaban,” said EC Director (PR) Ruhul Amin Mollik on Saturday. Due to the meeting, the Election Commission shifted its pre-scheduled meeting over law and order from 10am to 2:30pm. In the afternoon, the EC will sit with top representatives of law enforcing agencies and intelligences to review the overall law and order situation ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026. CEC Nasir will chair the meeting on law and order at the Conference Room of the Election Commission in the city. Top representatives of the armed forces, the Principal Secretary, the Home Affairs Secretary, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, the Inspector General of Police, Directors general of Border Guard Bangladesh, the Coast Guard, Ansar and VDP, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI), National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), along with additional IGPs of Special Branch (SB) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Inspector General of Prisons are supposed to attend the meeting. The major agendas of the meeting are to review pre-election law and order situation, the activities of joint forces to recover illegal arms and prevent terror acts, and the compliance with electoral code by candidates and political parties as well as the issues related to maintaining an election-friendly environment.  Four election commissioners will be present in the law and order meeting. Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday amended the election schedule gazette bringing change in the timeframe to file appeals challenging the decisions of the returning officers against the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers during the scrutiny. According to the amended gazette, the appeals against the decisions of the returning officers can be filed from January 5 to 9, while the appeals will be disposed of on January 10-18. In the original schedule, the time for submission of appeals was January 5-11 and the time for disposal of the appeals was January 12-18. Earlier on December 11, the Chief Election Commissioner announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is December 29, while the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).