Osman Hadi laid to rest beside Kazi Nazrul as thousands bid farewell
Sharif Osman Hadi was shot on 12 December and later airlifted to Singapore for treatment, where he died on Thursday night, sparking widespread protests across the country.
Highlights:
- Sharif Osman Hadi laid to rest beside national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam
- Heavy security in place as Hadi is buried after janaza
- Political leaders, students join Hadi's burial amid national mourning
- Hadi buried following funeral prayers at parliament complex
Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha, was laid to rest beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on the DU campus this afternoon (20 December), following his namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad amid tight security and with thousands in attendance.
Among those present at the burial were Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Vice-President Md Abu Shadik Kayem and National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah.
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After the burial, DU VC Niaz said, "Martyr Sharif Osman Hadi has become a part of history. May Allah accept the sacrifice he made for the country. His family is part of the extended family of Dhaka University."
"To pay our final respects, he has been buried beside our national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. We believe Dhaka University has embraced its child. A mother has accepted her son, or the university has accepted him."
Earlier, a freezer van carrying the body of the slain Inqilab Mancha leader entered the mausoleum of Kazi Nazrul Islam on the Dhaka University campus.
His body was brought to the parliament complex following an autopsy at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus arrived and spoke at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad before the funeral prayer of Sharif Osman Hadi.
He was joined by members of the Advisory Council, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, and Secretary Mia Golam Parwar, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, NCP Convener Nahid Islam, and leaders of other political parties.
From 10am, people began arriving on Manik Mia Avenue in small processions to attend the janaza. To facilitate the programme, vehicular movement was suspended from Khejurbagan Crossing to Manik Mia Avenue. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has requested city residents to follow several traffic instructions.
In addition to police deployment, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members were stationed at key points across the capital, including the parliament complex and other sensitive locations.
Earlier, Dr Md Abdul Ahad, a resident physician at the Neurosurgery Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and member secretary of the National Health Alliance (NHA), confirmed this morning (20 December) that the body had been taken to the hospital for autopsy.
The funeral prayer (janaza) of Hadi, who was aiming to contest the upcoming election from Dhaka-8, was held in Dhaka this afternoon, a day after his body was brought back from Singapore following his death from gunshot injuries.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police deployed a large contingent of police personnel, along with 1,000 body-worn cameras, to ensure security during the funeral prayer of Hadi, said DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman.
His burial took place after the prayer amid heightened security arrangements.
The Chief Adviser's Press Wing had requested that those wishing to attend the janaza not carry any bags or heavy items. It also announced that flying drones will be strictly prohibited in and around the parliament complex during the prayer.
Preparations for his burial began this morning beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, near the Dhaka University Central Mosque.
The grave-digging started around 11:30am.
At the time, Dhaka University Assistant Proctor Rafiqul Islam told The Business Standard that Hadi was to be buried on the south side of Kazi Nazrul Islam's grave, in the second slot on the east side along the central mosque.
The nation is observing a one-day state mourning today for Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontline fighter of the July Uprising and spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha.
On this occasion, the national flag is being flown at half-mast in all government, semi-government, autonomous offices, educational institutions, government and private buildings, and Bangladesh missions abroad.
Special prayers seeking forgiveness for Hadi's departed soul were organised in mosques across the country after Jumma prayers yesterday; other places of worship also arranged special prayers.
Hadi, also an aspiring independent candidate for Dhaka-8, was shot on December 12 while he was in a battery-run autorickshaw in the capital's Paltan area.
He was immediately rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and later shifted to Evercare Hospital on the same day as his condition deteriorated.
On December 15, Hadi was airlifted to Singapore by air ambulance for better treatment, where he succumbed to his bullet injuries on Thursday night.
Following the news of his death, widespread protests broke out across Dhaka and several other districts late Thursday night, with demonstrations continuing into the early hours of today.
