Dhaka: Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, who was critically injured in a gun attack in Dhaka last Friday, has died while undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital.
Inqilab Mancha confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Thursday night.
The news was also shared through Osman Hadi’s verified Facebook account.
The information was further confirmed to media by Saeed Hasan, convener of the Dhaka University unit of Inqilab Mancha.
Saeed Hasan said Osman Hadi died at 9:45pm (Bangladesh time).
Dr Ahad, head of the National Citizen Party’s (NCP) health cell and Hadi’s physician, confirmed the news in a video message, saying: “We have received word from Singapore General Hospital that Hadi has passed away.”
Earlier on Wednesday night, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited Hadi at the hospital.
Following the visit, he spoke to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at around 9:40pm, informing him that Hadi’s condition was extremely critical.
Osman Hadi, who was being considered as a potential Dhaka-8 candidate for the upcoming national election, was shot in the head on Friday, December 12, in the Purana Paltan area of the capital.
According to investigators, an assailant opened fire on him from a motorcycle that had been following him from behind while he was travelling in a battery-powered rickshaw to conduct electioneering.
He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors performed emergency brain surgery due to massive head injuries.
Physicians described his condition as extremely critical, saying that the bullet entered above his left ear and exited through the right side of his head, severely damaging the brain stem.
He was later transferred to Evercare Hospital for advanced treatment and was airlifted to Singapore on December 15.
Meanwhile, BNP and National Citizen Party (NCP) expressed condolences over the death of Osman Hadi.
“At the death of our fellow comrade, leaders and activists at all levels of the National Citizen Party (NCP) are deeply saddened. We pray for the forgiveness of his departed soul and express our deep condolences to his grief-stricken family and relatives,” said NCP in a condolence message signed by its joint member secretary and media cell secretary Mushfiq us Saleheen.
Law enforcement agencies have identified Faisal Karim Masud as the gunman who opened fire on Osman Hadi.
Police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said his associate Alamgir Sheikh was driving the motorcycle used in the attack.
Several investigation sources said the two suspects had illegally crossed the border and fled to India.
So far, police and RAB have detained and arrested 14 people in connection with the killing.
Those arrested include Faisal’s father Md Humayun Kabir (70), mother Mosa Hasi Begum (60), wife Shaheda Parvin Samia, and brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Sipu.
Other detainees are Md Nuruzzaman Nomani alias Ujjwal, Md Kabir, Abdul Hannan, Md Hiron, Md Razzak, Faisal’s girlfriend Maria Akhter, and Simiron Deo and Sanjay Chisim, identified by investigators as human traffickers operating in the Haluaghat border area.
The investigation into the killing is ongoing.
