A cloud of suspicion has deepened around the attempted killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, convenor of the extremist platform Inquilab Mancha, amid growing questions over the role of Bangladesh’s interim government and powerful forces operating within it.
Police have released disturbing details suggesting that the attack was not an isolated act of violence, but part of a wider and carefully orchestrated plot. Investigators have identified Faisal Karim Masud as the prime suspect.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police released his photograph after identifying him through CCTV footage. The Home Ministry announced a reward of Tk 5 million for information leading to his arrest.
Suspect’s Release From Jail Sparks Outrage
As police intensified the hunt, explosive information emerged about how Faisal Karim Masud was allegedly recruited for the attack. Multiple sources involved in the investigation confirmed that he was released from jail with covert support from influential figures linked to the interim government. Investigators say he was freed to carry out a “special mission.”
This revelation has shocked many. Faisal Karim Masud is a known criminal with a history of violent crime.
On October 28 last year, following the July uprising, armed robbers stormed an office at Baitul Aman Housing Society in Dhaka’s Adabor area. At gunpoint, they looted Tk 1.7 million from the British Columbia School office. Faisal Karim Masud was named as the main accused.
RAB arrested him on November 7 from Adabor. Two foreign pistols, magazines, bullets, three mobile phones, and cash were recovered from him. An arms case was filed, and his identity was widely reported in mainstream media.
Yet despite the seriousness of the charges, Faisal secured bail with unusual speed.
Questions Over Bail Process
On February 16 this year, the High Court granted him six months’ bail. The order was uploaded to the Supreme Court website within three days, an unusually fast process for such serious cases. On August 12, the same bench extended his bail for another year.
Legal experts say the speed and ease of the bail raise serious questions. How could an accused arrested with weapons in a robbery case receive bail within just three months and eight days?
Lawyer and Human Rights Activist Parvez Hashem questioned the double standard. He pointed out that former Chief Justice Khairul Haque, Justice Manik, prominent lawyers, politicians, journalists, artists, and writers have been jailed for over a year without credible charges and denied bail.
“Under the Yunus government, no one gets bail without political clearance,” he told The Voice adding, “So why are hardened criminals quietly released? Were they freed to carry out killings?”
Political Motive Behind the Attack
Analysts say the mystery of Faisal’s release lies at the heart of the plot to kill Osman Hadi.
Videos circulating on social media show Hadi in multiple private meetings with Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Sadiq Kayem. Political analyst Arif Jebtik publicly questioned Sadiq Kayem’s role in the attack.
Analyst Sabbir Khan warned that convicted criminals are being released in a planned manner to stage violent dramas. “How many more people will they kill?” he asked.
Cultural activist and freedom fighter Tajul Imam told The Voice that the attack was meant to create chaos and falsely blame the Awami League. He said Hadi had led mob attacks, including the destruction of Bangabandhu’s historic Dhanmondi 32 residence, and had used aggressive rhetoric for more than a year.
“Hadi was turned into a sacrificial pawn,” Tajul Imam said. “They wanted his death to blame the Awami League, cancel elections, and cling to power. But now the truth is coming out, and it may backfire.”
Blame Game Among Political Groups
BNP leaders blamed Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, for the attack. BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi cited police information and alleged that Shibir leader Sadiq Kayem was involved.
Meanwhile, Islami Chhatra Shibir accused BNP leader Mirza Abbas of being the mastermind. Sadiq Kayem made the claim on Facebook soon after the shooting.
When Mirza Abbas visited Hadi at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he was assaulted by Shibir activists and so-called “July warriors.”
Hadi was an independent candidate from Dhaka-8 in the upcoming election. Jamaat-backed Sadiq Kayem and BNP’s Mirza Abbas were also contenders for the seat.
Pretext for Crackdown on Awami League
Political analysts say the shooting came just one day after the Election Commission announced the election schedule. They believe the incident was used to justify a new crackdown.
Within 24 hours, police arrested 1,506 people, most of them Awami League leaders and activists. Police confirmed the arrests on December 13.
At a press conference, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced the launch of “Operation Devil Hunt: Phase-2” to suppress what he called “Awami fascist terrorists.”
Critics say the operation openly targets Awami League supporters, freedom fighters, and secular voices. Since August 2024, at least 44,472 Awami League-linked individuals have been arrested. The number crossed 50,000 by early November. Many remain jailed without bail under what critics describe as fabricated cases.
Hadi’s Condition and Extremist Rhetoric
Hadi was shot on December 12 while launching his election campaign in Bijoynagar. Associates said the attackers were known to him and had been with him since the morning.
He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital. Doctors say his condition remains critical and he is on life support.
Despite this, extremist rhetoric has intensified. NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah declared that there would be “no place for Awami League” in Bangladesh. At a rally, he vowed in Hadi’s blood to erase the party from the country.
Inquilab Mancha has led campaigns to arrest Awami League members nationwide and to protect “July warriors.” It was at the forefront of efforts to disband the Awami League, which the interim government did in May, barring it from contesting elections.
A Dangerous Pattern
Critics say the attack on Osman Hadi fits a disturbing pattern. Violent incidents are being used to justify mass arrests, silence political opponents, and derail elections.
They warn that under the Yunus-led interim government, repression is being practiced while the Awami League is branded as “fascist.”
As more details emerge about the suspect’s release and political links, the attempted killing is no longer seen as random violence. Instead, it is being viewed as part of a larger strategy to destabilize the country, suppress democratic forces, and cling to power.
