Bangladesh formally seeks UN assistance in Hadi murder case

The interim government of Bangladesh has sought the assistance of the United Nations for an impartial and expeditious investigation into the assassination of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.

Following instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh's Permanent Mission in Geneva sent an official Note Verbale to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on 6 February, according to a media statement issued by the Chief Adviser's Press Wing today (8 February).

It said the government has requested technical and institutional support to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the killing.

According to a message from the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva, the foreign ministry will be informed once a response is received from OHCHR.

The government reiterated its commitment to identifying those responsible for Hadi's killing and bringing them to justice. It said the investigation would follow international human rights standards, ensuring full transparency and accountability.

OHCHR, headquartered in Geneva, is the principal UN body tasked with promoting and protecting human rights.

Established in 1993, it supports treaty bodies, conducts field missions, and monitors and reports on human rights worldwide.

The move comes after several days of protests by Inqilab Mancha demanding an UN-backed investigation into Hadi's murder.

Hadi, who was an aspiring independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the capital's Paltan area on 12 December last year. He succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Singapore on 18 December.