Supporters of Sharif Osman bin Hadi claim that his assailants had spent the day by his side on the campaign trail before opening fire, though police have yet to release any information about the attackers.

Hadi, an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency and convenor of the Inquilab Mancha platform, was shot shortly after Jummah prayers in the capital’s Bijoynagar area on Friday.

Photographs circulated by his supporters show Hadi campaigning earlier in the day, with two men reportedly walking with him. They are now suspected to be the “professional shooters” who later carried out the attack.

Inspector General of Police Md Baharul Alam, speaking to bdnews24.com on Friday night, confirmed that a night-long nationwide crackdown had been launched to apprehend the assailants. He said the assault was executed by those seeking to exert a “negative influence” on the election. “We are not discussing progress at this moment; we are working, and we will not fail,” he added.

The attack came a day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for parliamentary elections and a referendum on implementing the July Charter on 12 February.

Hadi, a familiar figure in the July Movement, has been a vocal critic of the Awami League. Since announcing his independent candidacy, he has toured the Dhaka-8 constituency, covering areas including Motijheel, Shahjahanpur, Paltan, Ramna, and Shahbagh on Fridays.

As part of his campaign, Hadi had planned to distribute leaflets at a mosque after prayers before heading to Suhrawardy Udyan for lunch and discussions. It was en route to the Udyan that he was attacked.

A single shot on a moving target

CCTV footage shows two assailants on a motorcycle approaching the electric rickshaw carrying Hadi. The pillion rider fired a single shot to the head before the attackers sped away. The number plate of the bike was not visible. The attack occurred around 2:25pm on Box Culvert Road.

The spent cartridge was later recovered by police. According to Dhaka crime veteran Parvez Khan, hitting a moving target with a single bullet indicates the work of a professional shooter. “This attack is in no way a coincidence. It was a precise strike,” he said.

Suspected attackers identified by supporters

Supporters have released photographs from the campaign showing two young men believed to be involved — one masked and sitting beside Hadi, the other in a suit and shawl standing nearby. Some images have circulated online, with attempts to reconstruct facial features using AI.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) confirmed they had visited the scene, collected CCTV footage, and were conducting raids to identify and apprehend the suspects. Citizens have been urged to report information to local stations or via 999.

Critical condition in hospital

Within 10–15 minutes of the shooting, Hadi was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where supporters, activists, and journalists gathered in large numbers, requiring Army assistance to control the crowd. He underwent surgery before being transferred to Evercare Hospital ICU at 7:35pm.

Neurosurgeon Zahid Raihan stated that the bullet may have passed clean through Hadi’s skull. “His condition is extremely serious. We cannot give any assurance of recovery,” he said. Doctors at Evercare confirmed that Hadi is on artificial respiration.

Outrage and protests

The attack has sparked widespread protests and anger. Demonstrations have been held at Dhaka University and other locations, while in Hadi’s birthplace, Jhalakathi, residents blocked roads in protest.

The incident has intensified fears over political violence ahead of the elections and raised urgent questions about candidate security and law enforcement preparedness.