A Nation’s Farewell: Hundreds of Thousands Gather for Osman Hadi’s Funeral in Dhaka

Dhaka stood still on Saturday, December 20, 2025, as an overwhelming tide of grief swept through the capital for the funeral prayer of Sharif Osman Hadi. From the early hours of the morning, hundreds of thousands of people streamed toward Manik Mia Avenue and the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, filling the wide roads with bodies, banners, tears, and whispered prayers. Students walked shoulder to shoulder with elderly men, activists stood beside families who had never met Hadi personally but felt they knew him through his voice and courage. Many chanted slogans, others stood silently, but the message was the same: this was not just a burial, it was a collective goodbye from a nation that had embraced him as its own.

Security was tight throughout the area, with authorities asking mourners to arrive without bags or heavy items as the crowd continued to grow beyond expectations. In the afternoon, the namaz-e-janaza was led by Hadi’s elder brother, Abu Bakar Siddique, moments after his body was returned from Singapore, where he had been on life support following the shooting in Dhaka earlier this month. As the prayer ended, many in the crowd broke down, while others raised their hands in silent vows to continue the struggle he had stood for. For countless attendees, the scale of the gathering itself spoke louder than words, reflecting the deep respect and love Hadi had earned through his role in the July uprising of 2024 and his leadership within Inqilab Moncho.

Hadi’s final journey continued to Dhaka University, where he was laid to rest beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, a resting place that carried powerful symbolism for those who saw Hadi as a voice of resistance and awakening for a new generation. His death has shaken the country at a sensitive moment, already sparking protests, unrest, and attacks on media outlets, while intensifying public pressure on the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to deliver justice. With national elections scheduled for February 2026, the farewell to Osman Hadi became more than a moment of mourning—it became a reminder of a life that left a lasting mark on Bangladesh’s political conscience, and a nation still waiting for answers about who silenced him and why.