Bangladesh Grapples With Rising Violence After Dhaka Shooting

Dhaka, Dec 2025 : Dhaka was shaken on Friday afternoon when Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesperson of the activist platform Inqilab Mancha and a prospective independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head in a busy public area, underscoring growing concerns over law and order in Bangladesh under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

According to local media reports, the shooting took place around 2:25 pm in the Box Culvert area of Bijoynagar in central Dhaka. Hadi was travelling in a rickshaw when assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene. He was immediately rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition and later transferred to Evercare Hospital, where he remains on life support.

Doctors treating Hadi have said his condition is extremely serious. Speaking to the media from Evercare Hospital on Saturday morning, Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber said that while there is some internal response, Hadi continues to be in a critical state. Physicians have placed him under a 48-hour observation period and have not yet been able to provide a clear prognosis. Leaders of the platform have appealed to citizens across the country to pray for his recovery.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed the attack and said a large-scale operation has been launched to identify and arrest those responsible. Police officials stated that investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence from the area. Despite these assurances, no arrests had been announced at the time of reporting, fuelling criticism over the government’s ability to ensure public safety.

The shooting occurred just a day after the schedule for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections was announced, adding a political dimension to the incident. Hadi was expected to contest as an independent candidate from Dhaka-8, a constituency that has seen intense political activity in recent years.

Several activist groups and political platforms have alleged that the attack was premeditated. Fahim Faruqi, convener of Mancha-24, told reporters outside Evercare Hospital that there was evidence suggesting the attackers were linked to the banned Chhatra League. He accused the authorities of failing to act decisively despite what he described as credible leads and demanded a speedy trial for those involved.

The incident has reignited a broader debate over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh since the interim government assumed power. Opposition voices, particularly the Awami League, have repeatedly accused the Yunus-led administration of presiding over a sharp rise in violence, crime, and what they describe as “mob terrorism.”

In a recent statement, the Awami League claimed that incidents of murder, rape, robbery, looting, and snatching have increased significantly across the country. The party alleged that the interim government lacks a popular mandate and is relying on fear and intimidation to maintain control. It further accused state institutions of either enabling or ignoring acts of violence, warning that the rule of law is being steadily eroded.

The Awami League has also cited reports from human rights organisations expressing alarm over rising terrorism and extrajudicial actions. According to the party, incidents such as custodial deaths, alleged extrajudicial killings, and the recovery of unidentified bodies have become more frequent. It has claimed that its leaders and activists are being systematically targeted, both inside prisons and outside through violent attacks.

Human rights groups have echoed some of these concerns in recent months, noting an increase in politically linked violence and a climate of fear in several parts of the country. Critics argue that without swift and transparent action in high-profile cases such as the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, public confidence in law enforcement and democratic processes will continue to erode.

As Hadi fights for his life in hospital, the attack has come to symbolise wider anxieties about security, political violence, and accountability in Bangladesh at a critical moment ahead of national elections.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)