Bangladesh was gripped by shock and sorrow on Friday after Sharif Osman Hadi — convenor of Inquilab Mancha and an aspiring independent candidate for Dhaka-8 — was left critically injured following an attack by unidentified assailants in the capital.

As he now fights for his life in hospital, a deep, uneasy silence has settled over the nation. From roadside tea stalls to high-level political drawing rooms, two questions are dominating every conversation: Was the assault a deliberate attempt to derail the upcoming national election? Or was it a brutal response to Hadi’s uncompromising criticism of India’s political and cultural influence in Bangladesh?

The attack took place in Bijoy Nagar shortly after midday prayers, barely 24 hours after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th national parliamentary polls. Witnesses saw two men on a motorcycle fleeing moments after the shooting. Hadi was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being shifted to Evercare Hospital, where officials describe his condition as “extremely critical”.

The gravity of the incident deepened when police launched an “all-out” nationwide operation hours later. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus condemned the attack as “a well-planned assault on Bangladesh’s democratic journey”, warning that “defeated forces” were attempting to sabotage both the national election and the proposed referendum. His remarks reinforced the growing national suspicion that this attack is not an isolated crime but part of a coordinated political conspiracy.

Yet another, more troubling dimension overshadows the tragedy.

Hadi’s sister, Masuma — who rushed to Dhaka from their family home in Nalchity — insisted her brother had been targeted for his strong criticism of India’s influence.

“He writes against India; he writes for Bangladesh. Patriots cannot live in this country,” she said, trembling with grief. “India won’t let him live.”

Her fears echo warnings Hadi himself had publicly shared. In a widely circulated Facebook post, he reported receiving threatening calls and messages from dozens of foreign numbers. He described a sustained campaign of intimidation aimed at breaking his resolve and silencing what he saw as his fight for sovereignty and justice.

“He writes against India; he writes for Bangladesh. Patriots cannot live in this country,” Masuma said

Hadi’s rhetoric has long focused on what he terms external hegemony. He has criticised political slogans associated with Indian nationalist ideology, expressed concern over India-origin organisations operating in Bangladesh, and urged greater vigilance in protecting national identity.

His remark branding India “Asian Israel” during a fiery speech drew strong reaction online and thrust him into a contentious geopolitical debate.

Despite this, there is no verified evidence that Hadi advocated an explicitly anti-India foreign policy. Analysts note that while his language is sharp and nationalist, it appears rooted in cultural defensiveness rather than formal geopolitical hostility. His critique targets influence — not the Indian state itself.

Still, supporters believe his outspokenness placed him squarely in the crosshairs.

Political reactions have been swift and intense across party lines. BNP acting chair Tarique Rahman called the attack a “far-reaching conspiracy” designed to destabilise the electoral environment. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman, who visited the hospital soon after the attack, described it as “extremely alarming”. The National Citizen Party, Amar Bangladesh Party, and Rashtra Sangskar Andolan issued a joint statement denouncing the incident as “a direct assault on democracy”.

For once, rivals across the political spectrum agree: the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi is an attack on Bangladesh’s fragile democratic future.

Chief Adviser Yunus vowed to “foil any such attempts at any cost”, warning that no force would be allowed to sabotage the national election. His words carry the weight of a country now bracing for political turbulence as polling day approaches.

“Defeated forces are attempting to sabotage both the national election and the proposed referendum": Dr Yunus

Hadi’s role in Inquilab Mancha — a movement born out of the July 2024 uprising — made him a symbol of youthful resistance and sovereign self-assertion. His rise as a grassroots candidate placed him in a dangerous intersection of political frustration, public mobilisation, and geopolitical sensitivities. That volatile combination may now have brought consequences of the gravest kind.

The attack has sent a chilling reminder of the risks facing candidates and activists in an already tense pre-election climate. It has revived old fears of targeted violence, highlighted deep vulnerabilities in electoral security, and cast a long shadow over the credibility of the polls ahead.

As Sharif Osman Hadi battles for survival, Bangladesh faces an unsettling reality: the path to the upcoming election is now marked by fear, suspicion, and unanswered questions. Whether this was an orchestrated bid to disrupt the democratic process or fallout from his contentious political positions, its impact has already shaken the nation.

For now, Bangladesh waits — anxious, grieving, and demanding both truth and justice.