Professional ‘Shooter’ Attacks Potential Independent Candidate Hadi in Dhaka-8

Just one day after the announcement of the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Mancha and a potential independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency, was critically injured after being shot by miscreants in Bijoynagar, Dhaka. On Friday, after Jummah prayers, he was traveling in a battery-powered rickshaw from Motijheel towards Suhrawardy Udyan. At that moment, a person riding on the back seat of a motorcycle fired a shot at very close range, which penetrated Hadi’s head.

Immediately after the incident, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. There, doctors performed emergency surgery to remove the bullet from his head and cleaned accumulated blood after opening the skull. Later in the evening, he was shifted to Evercare Hospital and placed on life support. Physicians stated that his condition is “extremely critical.”

Professional Shooter: A Single Shot on a Moving Target

Video footage of the incident shows the motorcycle pulling up very close to the right side of Hadi’s rickshaw. The person sitting on the back seat quickly pulled out a firearm and fired a single shot. After the shooting, the motorcycle fled the scene at high speed along the empty road.

Parvez Khan, a veteran crime journalist in Dhaka, said, “Hitting a person riding in one moving vehicle with a single shot fired from another moving motorcycle is the work of a highly professional shooter.” He believes the incident was not an act of random violence but a carefully planned attack.

Was the Assailant One of Hadi’s Campaign Companions?

Shortly after the attack, Hadi’s associates released two photographs taken during leaflet distribution. In one photo, a masked young man is seen sitting beside Hadi; in another, a man wearing a suit stands nearby. According to them, these two individuals had been accompanying Hadi during his election campaign since morning, but their behavior appeared suspicious. They did not attend Jummah prayers and instead stood outside, closely observing Hadi’s movements.

By comparing these individuals’ faces with those of the two persons seen on the motorcycle in CCTV footage, they suspect that the assailant may have been among Hadi’s own companions. Discussions are already underway on social media regarding AI-based facial reconstruction of the images.

Police Say No One Is Beyond Suspicion

In the afternoon, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited the crime scene in front of Box Culvert Road under Paltan Police Station and collected the bullet casing. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) stated that CCTV footage is being collected and analyzed, and that police and the Detective Branch (DB) are conducting raids at various locations to identify those involved.

Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Muhammad Harun Or Rashid, said, “An investigation is underway to determine who carried out the shooting and why.”

Abdullah Al Jabir, Member Secretary of Inqilab Mancha, said, “We are not keeping anyone beyond suspicion. There are possibilities both of political rivalry and of vested interests linked to ousted forces.”

Chaos at the Hospital, Army and BGB Deployed

Within minutes of Hadi being brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, supporters, political activists, and journalists gathered in large numbers on the hospital premises. To control the situation, the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), RAB, and police were deployed. Ordinary patients faced difficulties in receiving medical treatment.

Chief Adviser of the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, condemned the incident and expressed deep concern. He directed authorities to conduct a swift investigation and arrest the attackers.

Meanwhile, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman commented, “This is part of a new conspiracy to destabilize the country.”

As Hadi’s condition further deteriorated, he was transferred to Evercare Hospital in a special ambulance at around 7:45 pm.