Police in Bangladesh have filed a chargesheet in the Hadi murder case against 17 people on Tuesday, stating that the murder was committed as probably a result of ‘political vengeance’ manipulated by the Awami League. Md Shafiqul Islam, the Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch, provided the motive at a news briefing while the investigators handed over the document to the court.
Chargesheet and accused
The chargesheet refers to 17 suspects where Faisal Karim Masud is thought to be the assassin. Also, the police report that 12 of the accused were arrested and 5 are still on the run. The third person, Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, did the job of hiding the people who executed the attack and has connections with the leaders of the local Chhatra League and a ward nomination by the Awami League.
What can be the police justification for ‘political vengeance’?
Investigators discovered that Hadi had been vocal against the now-outlawed Awami League and its student wing, the Chhatra League, through rallies and social media. Md Shafiqul Islam claimed, “The accused was influenced by the reactions of the criticized person and the statements of the victim about politics and the defendants’ affiliations show that it was a political assassination where the killer did not choose the victim randomly but was directed by political interests rather”.
Victim’s profile and timeline
Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, represented the Inqilab Moncho (Revolution Stage) of Bangladesh and rose to fame during the mass protests in July-August 2024 which ultimately brought down the Hasina government. He was shot in the head on December 12 in Dhaka while taking part in an election campaign; in spite of being rushed abroad for the necessary medical treatments, he died on December 18. For the upcoming elections scheduled for February 12, he was running to become a member of parliament.
Investigation description and transnational elements
According to the police, the shooter had direct ties with the opponent’s student organization, and several suspects acted to help him flee. The police did not inform the public in advance, like they were supposed to, but the filing of the chargesheet earlier was still justified by evidence so far presented, besides, there was the ever-increasing public demand for justice by way of protests. Moreover, on the matter of the suspects supposedly crossing the border, the contention that it happened has been made by officials from foreign countries, thus making the case a matter of diplomatic importance.
Authorities in Bangladesh say Hadi’s killing was driven by ‘political vengeance’ pic.twitter.com/49jYzluXe3
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 6, 2026
Public reaction and law-and-order situation
There have been strong outcries in different parts of the country following Hadi’s killing, bringing about street disturbances and other forms of disorder. Protestors have been calling for the immediate apprehension of the culprits as well as the trials to be conducted in a transparent manner. In addition, the period following the incident has been marked by a few cases of mob violence, namely, attacks on media houses and cultural centers and lynching in the central part of the country. The authorities are facing both the responsibility to return peace to the affected areas and the overwhelming public demand for justice which could mean the violent escalation of the situation.
Why the indictment is very important
When the formal charges are filed, prosecution moves ahead of investigation, ringing the bell for legal court steps that will be evidence testing and holding police accountable. The chargesheet in a case considered as having a political background helps the legal narrative writer by pinning the alleged perpetrators and facilitators.
What to see next
Though the legal experts will watch the arrests converting into indictments and the courts deliberating over the recognition of the political side, the general public will be looking at the suspects who are still out of the law and at the issue of whether the investigations should go beyond the country’s boundaries to ensure that justice is done. Considering the current case situation and the whole political instability issue, people say that sooner or later they will be asking for some other party to check if the police and the courts are fair.
