Assassination of Anti-Hasina Leader Ignites Fresh Turmoil in Bangladesh

 With the sudden demise of Sharif Osman Hardy, leader of the Inkilab Mancha organization and a prominent figure in the student movement that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh, a severe crisis has emerged in the country.

The 32-year-old young activist, who was shot by a group of masked individuals while returning from a mosque in Dhaka, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday while receiving treatment in Singapore. The attack, targeting Hardy who was preparing to contest as an independent candidate in the general election scheduled for February 12 next year, came less than 24 hours after the election was announced, raising serious political suspicions.

Following Hardy's death, protests erupted in Dhaka and several other areas, with enraged crowds storming the offices of leading media outlets 'The Daily Star' and 'Prothom Alo', damaging property and setting buildings on fire. Security forces and fire brigades reportedly made strenuous efforts to rescue journalists trapped inside the affected buildings. Additionally, cultural centers such as Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi have been targeted, with accusations that these violent acts are aimed at disrupting the electoral process.

Interim government chief Muhammad Yunus, who called the assassination a colossal loss to the nation, declared Saturday a national day of mourning and emphasized that the journey towards democracy cannot be halted by terror. However, critics point out that the government has failed to control the escalating violence and that there is a delay in the response of security forces. Some political analysts suggest that the interim government is attempting to postpone the February elections due to the prevailing unrest.

Hundreds of thousands of people attended Hardy's funeral on Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka last Saturday. After religious rites were performed at the Parliament complex, his body was laid to rest near the tomb of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Speaking at the event, student leaders demanded that the government reveal information about the perpetrators within 24 hours. Due to extremist groups launching protest marches towards the Indian border, demanding justice for Hardy's death and calling for Hasina to be handed over to Bangladesh, Indian security forces have taken steps to strengthen border security.

Investigations into the incident have revealed that the main suspect in the murder, Faisal Karim, has now fled to India. Security forces have discovered that he had hinted to his girlfriend the day before the crime that a country-shaking event was about to occur. Additionally, an incident has been reported in Mymensingh city where a 25-year-old Hindu youth was brutally murdered and his body set on fire on charges of blasphemy, with seven individuals arrested in connection with the incident. Hardy, who played a significant role in the struggle to oust Sheikh Hasina, ending her 15-year rule, was previously a controversial figure for publishing a 'Greater Bangladesh' map on social media that included Indian territories.