Indian High Commission Must Remain Shut Until Hadi’s Killers Returned

Sarjis Alam, Northern Chief Organiser of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), has issued a strongly worded demand urging Bangladesh’s interim government to take decisive action following the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inkilab Manch. In a controversial statement, Sarjis declared that the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh should remain closed until India hands over those responsible for Hadi’s murder.

Sarjis Alam made the remarks in a Facebook post at around 10:45 pm on Thursday, 18 December. Addressing the interim government directly, he wrote, “Until India returns the killers of martyr brother Hadi, the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh will remain closed. Now or never. We are in a war.” His comments have since sparked intense debate across political and diplomatic circles, raising concerns over bilateral relations and public order.

The statement followed confirmation of Sharif Osman Hadi’s death while undergoing treatment in Singapore. His verified Facebook page announced the news late at night, stating that Hadi had been accepted as a martyr in the struggle against what it described as “Indian hegemony.” The Inkilab Manch’s official Facebook page also confirmed his passing, triggering a wave of grief and anger among supporters.

Sharif Osman Hadi was shot on Friday, 12 December, a day after the national election schedule was announced. The attack took place on Box Culvert Road in the capital’s Purana Paltan area, where Hadi was travelling in a rickshaw during campaign activities. He was contesting the Dhaka-8 constituency as an independent candidate in the upcoming national election.

According to witnesses and police sources, two assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene. Hadi sustained critical injuries and was rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Medical examinations revealed that a bullet had entered the right side of his head and exited through the left, with fragments remaining lodged in his brain.

Given the severity of his condition, Hadi was later transferred to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka at the family’s request. On Monday, 15 December, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced medical treatment. Despite intensive care, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment abroad.

Hadi’s death has intensified political tensions, with supporters demanding justice and accountability. Sarjis Alam’s call to shut down the Indian High Commission marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric, placing pressure on the interim government to respond decisively. As investigations into the killing continue, the incident has become a focal point of broader political mobilisation, raising serious questions about security, justice, and regional diplomatic relations.

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