Bangladesh has been plunged into violent unrest following the killing of prominent student leader and political activist Sharif Usman Hadi, with protesters accusing India of direct involvement through its intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
Hadi, 32, spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha, was critically wounded last Friday when masked assailants shot him in the head during the launch of an election campaign in Dhaka. He was later airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, according to Bangladeshi officials.
The killing triggered nationwide protests, particularly in the capital, where enraged demonstrators torched offices of the ruling Awami League, attacked media houses perceived as pro-India, and staged sit-ins outside the Indian High Commission. Protesters raised slogans holding India responsible for the assassination.
Hadi had emerged as a key figure in the 2024 student-led protest movement that led to the collapse of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, after which she fled to India. He had recently announced plans to contest the upcoming general elections as an independent candidate.
The assassination occurred just one day after Bangladesh’s interim government announced the election schedule, intensifying political tensions. The interim administration has since declared Saturday a national day of mourning in Hadi’s honor.
According to preliminary investigations, Hadi had been receiving death threats from Indian phone numbers. He had publicly stated that he was under threat from Awami League supporters and had documented these threats on social media prior to the attack.
During the unrest, protesters also set fire to the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of Sheikh Hasina, marking the second such incident since the student uprising.
Allegations of a Global Indian ‘Killing Network’
The Bangladesh incident has renewed international scrutiny of India’s alleged involvement in targeted killings abroad.
A Washington Post investigation published on December 31, 2024, reported that India’s intelligence agency RAW orchestrated at least six targeted killings inside Pakistan, using hired assassins and weapons sourced from Afghanistan.
Documented cases include:
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April 2023, Lahore: Aamir Sarfraz (Tanba) was shot dead by masked attackers.
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February 26, 2023, Karachi (Gulistan-e-Jauhar): 55-year-old Khalid Raza killed by unidentified motorcyclists.
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February 20, 2023, Rawalpindi: 60-year-old Bashir Ahmed shot dead.
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March 2022, Karachi (Akhtar Colony): Carpenter Zahid Ibrahim murdered inside his furniture shop.
Notably, in March 2022, Indian media outlets — including Hindustan Times — described Zahid Ibrahim’s killing as retaliation by an Indian national, a narrative that later drew criticism from security analysts.
In June 2021, a car bomb attack in Lahore’s Johar Town targeted the residence of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, narrowly missing its intended target.
Canada, US, and International Reactions
Canada has formally accused India of targeting Sikh activists on its soil. In June 2023, Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in British Columbia.
Canadian authorities later arrested four Indian nationals, charging them with murder, and publicly stated that senior Indian officials, including Home Minister Amit Shah, were linked to the conspiracy.
A 2024 report by The Guardian claimed that India had orchestrated the killing of at least 20 individuals in Pakistan since 2020.
Meanwhile, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in its 2025 annual report, urged Washington to impose targeted sanctions on RAW operative Vikas Yadav and related Indian intelligence entities, citing their alleged involvement in attempted assassinations of US citizens on American soil.
Regional Fallout
Analysts warn that the killing of Sharif Usman Hadi has not only destabilized Bangladesh’s fragile political transition but has also deepened regional tensions, reinforcing concerns about the expansion of covert cross-border operations by Indian intelligence agencies.
As protests continue in Dhaka and other cities, Bangladesh’s interim government faces mounting pressure to ensure accountability, protect the electoral process, and prevent further escalation ahead of the polls.
