Tens of thousands throng Dhaka funeral of slain Bangladesh student leader

Tens of thousands of mourners on Saturday gathered in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, to attend the funeral of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, whose killing has sparked days of violent protests across the country.

Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s pro-democracy uprising, died on Thursday in a hospital in Singapore after he was shot by masked gunmen while leaving a mosque in Dhaka. His body was flown back to the capital on Friday ahead of the burial.

Huge crowds accompanied the funeral procession as prayers were held near the parliament complex, where police wearing body cameras were deployed to maintain security. Hadi was later laid to rest at the central mosque of Dhaka University.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, speaking emotionally at the funeral, said the gathering was not a farewell. “You are in our hearts, and you will remain in the heart of all Bangladeshis as long as the country exists,” he said.

The 32-year-old was an outspoken critic of India and was preparing to contest the general elections scheduled for February. Many mourners said his political stance made him a target.

Iqbal Hossain Saikot, a government employee who travelled from outside Dhaka to attend the prayers, said Hadi was killed because of his opposition to India. He added that the slain leader would continue to live on “among the millions of Bangladeshis who love the land and its sovereignty.”

Hadi’s death has triggered widespread unrest nationwide, with protesters demanding the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. On Thursday night, several buildings in Dhaka were set ablaze, including offices of major newspapers Prothom Alo and the Daily Star.

Some critics accuse the media outlets of being sympathetic to neighboring India, where former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge since fleeing Dhaka following the 2024 uprising.

Amnesty International on Saturday urged Bangladesh’s interim government to carry out a “prompt, thorough, independent and impartial” investigation into Hadi’s killing and the violence that followed.