Dhaka, Bangladesh – Two suspects in the murder of prominent Bangladeshi student activist Sharif Osman Hadi have reportedly fled to India, according to Bangladeshi police. This development is likely to further strain relations between the two neighboring countries.
Hadi, known for his vocal criticism of India and his participation in last year’s widespread popular uprising, was shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka earlier this month. He succumbed to his injuries in a Singapore hospital. His death sparked violent protests across Bangladesh, with demonstrators setting fire to buildings, including the offices of two major newspapers perceived as pro-India and a prominent cultural institution.
Under mounting pressure from near-daily protests nationwide, the interim Bangladeshi government is under pressure to apprehend Hadi’s killers. Hadi had intended to run in the upcoming general elections scheduled for February.
Police officials have described the killing as a premeditated act. Nazrul Islam, an official with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, stated that the individuals involved had been identified. He explained during a press conference that the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, crossed the Haluaghat border into India shortly after the attack on Hadi.
According to Islam, two Indian nationals met them at the border and escorted them to the state of Meghalaya in northeastern India before handing them over to other accomplices. Bangladeshi investigators are reportedly in contact with their Indian counterparts, who have allegedly detained the suspected accomplices. “We are in contact with the Meghalaya police, who have confirmed the arrest of two Indian citizens,” Islam stated.
However, senior police officers in Meghalaya have not commented on the matter. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs previously rejected what it called “false narratives” regarding New Delhi’s involvement in Hadi’s murder.
Relations between Bangladesh and India have been strained since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her subsequent asylum in India following the pro-democracy uprising in August 2024.
