Nation Mourns As Capital Prepares Osman Hadi Farewell

The capital of Bangladesh remains steeped in grief as preparations intensify for the final farewell of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inkilab Manch and a prominent political organiser, following the completion of his post-mortem examination. The autopsy was formally concluded at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka at around 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, 20 December, hospital authorities confirmed. With all legal and medical procedures completed, Hadi’s janaza is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. today at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. The announcement has further deepened the sombre mood that now blankets the city.

Earlier in the morning, at approximately 9:40 a.m., Hadi’s body was transferred from the morgue of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases to the morgue at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. The transfer was carried out under stringent security arrangements, with members of the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh, police, and other law enforcement agencies deployed along the route. Family members, close associates, fellow activists, and political colleagues accompanied the procession, many of them visibly shaken by grief. From the moment the body arrived, a tense and mournful silence prevailed across the hospital premises.

From dawn, people from different parts of Dhaka and beyond began gathering outside the hospital. Political activists, students, cultural figures, and ordinary citizens stood patiently, united by a single purpose: to catch a final glimpse of a man many regarded as a courageous and uncompromising voice. Tears flowed freely among the crowd, while others expressed their sorrow through quiet anger and reflection. After the autopsy, the body was bathed and prepared according to religious rites, and arrangements were made to transport it to the National Parliament complex for the funeral prayer.

In recognition of Sharif Osman Hadi’s death, the government is observing a day of state mourning on Saturday. National flags have been lowered to half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, educational establishments, and public and private buildings across the country. Bangladeshi missions abroad are also observing the mourning period, reflecting the national scale of the loss.

Hadi was critically injured on 12 December when assailants shot him in the head in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He was initially rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Evercare Hospital as his condition worsened. For advanced treatment, he was flown to Singapore earlier this week. Despite fighting for his life for six days at Singapore General Hospital, he passed away on Thursday, 18 December.

His body was repatriated on Friday evening, arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:50 p.m. in a coffin draped in the red and green of the national flag. From the airport, the body was taken to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases before today’s final rites.

Sharif Osman Hadi’s death marks more than the loss of an individual. It has created a profound void in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Known for his ideals, fearless stance, and unwavering voice of protest, Hadi leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire many long after his burial, even as the nation struggles to come to terms with his untimely departure.