State mourning being observed today over Hadi’s death

A one-day state mourning is being observed today (December 20), following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha.

The announcement was made by Chief Adviser of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus in a televised address to the nation on Thursday night (December 18). The Cabinet Division later issued a gazette notification the same night.

The notification stated that Sharif Osman Hadi, a fearless frontline fighter of the July mass uprising, a symbol of protesting youth and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha, passed away while undergoing treatment in Singapore. The interim government expressed deep sorrow over his death.

As part of the state mourning, the national flag is being kept at half-mast today at all government, semi-government and autonomous offices, educational institutions, as well as all public and private buildings across the country. The national flag is also being flown at half-mast at Bangladesh missions abroad.

Special prayers were held on Friday (December 19) at mosques across the country, at the request of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, seeking forgiveness for Hadi’s departed soul. Similar prayers were also offered at other religious institutions.

Sharif Osman Hadi died around 9:30pm on Thursday at Singapore General Hospital while receiving treatment. He was critically injured after being shot in the head by assailants on December 12 on Box Culvert Road in Old Paltan, Dhaka, a day after the schedule for the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum was announced. He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later admitted to Evercare Hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15 for advanced treatment.

His body was brought back to Bangladesh on Friday evening. His funeral prayers will be held today at 2:00pm at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. He will be laid to rest beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.