Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday visited Dhaka University and offered prayers at the grave of slain student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The visit took place under heavy security arrangements, reflecting the tense political atmosphere in Bangladesh ahead of the national elections scheduled for February. Rahman’s presence drew significant attention due to the recent surge in political violence.

During the visit, the 60-year-old BNP leader also paid respects at the grave of Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, located beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Hadi was buried next to the poet’s grave on December 20. According to local media reports, Rahman offered prayers quietly while senior party leaders accompanied him.

Authorities imposed strict security measures throughout the area. Traffic for both vehicles and pedestrians was suspended on roads from Shahbagh to Dhaka University, while personnel from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police were deployed along the route to prevent any untoward incident.

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Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was a prominent youth leader and a key figure in the July 2024 uprising that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. He was also a parliamentary candidate for the upcoming elections, making his killing a major political flashpoint. His death has further intensified tensions across the country.

Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 during an election campaign in Dhaka. He was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries on December 18. Tarique Rahman’s visit comes shortly after his return to Bangladesh from London, ending nearly 16 years of self-exile that began in 2008.

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