Int’l bodies urge probe into Osman Hadi killing

Staff Reporter :

International human rights organisations and the United Nations have strongly condemned the killing of youth protest leader Sharif Osman Hadi, urging the Bangladeshi authorities to carry out a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation amid rising political tensions ahead of the national elections scheduled for February.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the incident.

Speaking at a regular press briefing at UN headquarters on Friday, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Guterres condemns the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi and extends his condolences to the victim’s family.

“The Secretary-General calls on the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the killing, in line with international human rights standards,” Dujarric said.

He also urged all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from violence to preserve a peaceful electoral environment as Bangladesh heads towards a crucial national vote.

Alongside the United Nations, major international rights groups have echoed similar concerns.

In a strongly worded statement, Amnesty International called on the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation not only into Hadi’s killing but also into a series of violent incidents that followed.

Amnesty International expressed alarm over what it described as a wave of mob violence in the aftermath of the killing.

The organisation highlighted the burning of the offices of leading media outlets Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, the cultural institution Chhayanaut, and the harassment of New Age editor Nurul Kabir.

In a separate statement, Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said, “The assassination of the youth leader Osman Hadi was a terrible act.”

“Bangladesh authorities should now take urgent steps to prevent the mob attacks that have taken hold in the country since the Hasina government was ousted last August, and should ensure conditions for free, fair, and participatory elections in February,” she added.

In a statement, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey conveyed his sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Sharif Osman Hadi.
“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Bangladesh following the recent violence in Dhaka and other areas of the country,” she said.

The killing of Sharif Osman Hadi has sparked widespread outrage, protests and counter-protests, escalating tensions across the country.

The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened political uncertainty, with Bangladesh preparing for national elections under an interim administration.

Concerns over political violence, restrictions on civic space, and the safety of activists and journalists have already drawn international scrutiny.

Following Hadi’s death, unrest spread rapidly, with reports of vandalism, arson and attacks on media houses and cultural institutions.

Journalists’ organisations and civil society groups within Bangladesh have condemned the violence, warning that attacks on the press and cultural spaces threaten freedom of expression and democratic norms.

Rights groups say a transparent investigation into the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi and subsequent violent incidents will be a key test of the authorities’ commitment to the rule of law and human rights at a critical juncture for the country.