HRW Calls Killing of Sharif Osman Hadi ‘Horrific,’ Urges Action to Stop Violence in Bangladesh

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has described the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Manch, as a “horrific” incident and has called for urgent measures to stop attacks in Bangladesh.

The statement was issued on Friday by Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Director for Asia at Human Rights Watch. The information was reported by UNB on Saturday (December 20).

In the statement, HRW urged the authorities to take immediate steps to halt violence and ensure a “free, fair, and participatory” election scheduled for February. It said that since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, incidents of “mob attacks” across the country have reached an alarming level.

Meenakshi Ganguly said that attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star represent a serious assault on freedom of expression. She added that incitement to violence by certain political groups—particularly through social media—has created an environment in which journalists, political and social activists, as well as artists and singers, are being deliberately placed at risk.

According to the New York–based human rights organization, amid this wave of attacks, an election candidate, Sharif Osman Hadi, was recently killed. Hadi came into prominence during the 2024 student movement, which led to the overthrow of the then authoritarian government.

HRW noted that after years of authoritarian rule, Bangladesh is now facing a difficult struggle to restore democracy and protect human rights. Although the interim government has announced an election for February 12, 2026, its failure to curb political violence and uphold the rule of law is severely threatening civic space and increasing the risk of renewed human rights violations.

Meenakshi Ganguly reiterated that the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi was a “horrific incident” that underscores the gravity of the current situation.