The Morning After

December 18, 2025 will long be remembered in Bangladesh’s history as a terrible day, one in which a shining hero of the July 2024 Revolution succumbed to the injuries sustained in an assassination attempt several days prior. 

Osman Hadi’s death immediately provoked an understandable outpouring of emotion and anger from his fellow student activists and all those who came to admire his strong and courageous voice.  

One did not have to agree with everything that Hadi said to admire him and to believe that he would play an important role in building Bangladesh 2.0. 

As word of the extent of Hadi’s injuries spread in the days following his shooting, it became clear to most informed observers that the odds of his survival were slim and that absent a miracle the nation would soon be deprived of his presence.   

While rumors had spread on social media for days about the identity and whereabouts of his alleged assassin, official sources remained tight lipped as the investigation progressed.   

Simply by looking at who had a motive to silent Hadi’s voice and destabilize Bangladesh’s tenuous transition to democracy, speculation about responsibility for the attack soon centered on forces aligned to the former regime.  

The insensitive reactions from the former regime’s supporters at home and abroad only strengthened the belief that they were responsible for the attack.  

Moreover, there were widespread fears that the attack against Hadi would not be the last, and rumors of alleged “hit lists” circulated online.  

To its credit, the Interim Government immediately took steps to provide support for Hadi and his family, despite the long odds against his recovery.  These steps included sending him to Singapore for treatment.   

By all accounts, Hadi’s killing deeply affected Chief Advisor Yunus, who has long demonstrated a paternalistic affection towards the students who led the July Revolution.   

No doubt, the Chief Advisor also clearly understood the impact that Hadi’s death would have on the other student leaders as well as the fragile transition underway.   

In his public remarks (including those following Hadi’s death) and in his private actions, Chief Advisor Yunus consistently emphasized the importance of honoring the victim by helping to bring his dreams to fruition. 

At the same time, elements across the political spectrum (to include the former regime) who seek to thwart this transition wasted no time in trying to exploit Hadi’s death.    

Beyond domestic politics, the attack against Osman Hadi also dealt a serious blow to any efforts to improve Indo-Bangladesh relations.   Regardless of whether the assassin received direction or support from India (before or after the attack), the incident highlighted the continued presence of hundreds of senior officials of the previous regime in India.   

Efforts by Bangladesh’s interim government to return these individuals to face justice have been fruitless and the Indian government has failed to take any steps to silence their voices.  

The risk of this anti-Indian sentiment leading to violence was demonstrated in the attacks on Prothom Alo and Daily Star, long accused of being too closely aligned to India. 

The outpouring of emotion and the spasm of violence which followed news of Hadi’s death was as predictable as it was regrettable.    The Interim Government clearly bears responsibility for ensuring security and those responsible for any failures to prevent or respond to the chaos that took place need to be held accountable.  

At the same time, the immediate focus must be on stabilizing the situation, particularly as the nation prepares for several additional days of mourning to be closely followed by BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s long anticipated return home.   

These events will place further strain on security forces and could lead to additional violence, particularly if provoked by spoilers who seek to derail the transition. 

At this time, it is crucial that Bangladesh’s key government and non-government institutions come together to restore a sense of calm and safeguard the transition.   

This includes the political parties, business community, the media, civil society, religious leaders and of course the government.   

As they say, it is time for “all hands on deck.”  

Bangladesh’s international friends can also play a role, both by supporting these efforts and also sharing law enforcement and intelligence resources to help hold those responsible for Hadi’s death to account and to prevent future incidents.   

The biggest challenge on the horizon may be convincing Bangladesh’s political parties to put the national interest above their partisan interests.  

With elections in the offing, it would be tempting for the parties, their candidates, and their supporters to try to exploit this tragedy for their own advantage. Some are already doing so.  

But this only plays into the hands of the previous regime and all others who oppose the ongoing transition.   

There are examples in other countries (South Africa, for example) of political leaders coming together at times of national crisis, but there are equally many examples of when this failed. 

The coming week may be the most important in Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina fled in August 2024.  

I never met Osman Hadi. But from his writings and statements it is clear to me that he wanted to build more than he wanted to tear things down.  

As Chief Advisor Yunus eloquently said, the best way to honor his memory is to help realize his dream of a new Bangladesh. 

Jon F. Danilowicz is a retired American diplomat of the Department of State