Yunus Assures ‘Maximum Cooperation’ After Shooting of Dhaka-8 Candidate Osman Hadi
Sultanul Arefin 
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has promised “maximum cooperation” from the interim government after the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent activist and likely independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 seat.
Yunus gave the assurance during a late-night phone call with Hadi’s brother, Omar Bin Hadi, following the attack in central Dhaka.
Chief Adviser’s phone call: assurance of support for Osman Hadi
According to a statement posted on the Chief Adviser’s official Facebook page, Yunus spoke to Omar Bin Hadi soon after the incident.
He expressed deep concern and said the Advisory Council was “shocked and pained” by the shooting of Osman Hadi.
Yunus told the family that the government would stand beside them with “the highest level of cooperation”.
He also conveyed sympathy on behalf of the entire interim administration and asked for regular updates on Hadi’s condition.
Attack on Osman Hadi: candidate shot in busy election season
Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the activist platform Inquilab Mancha and a prospective independent parliamentary candidate, was shot in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar–Paltan area on Friday afternoon.
Police and witnesses said unidentified assailants arrived on several motorcycles, opened fire, and fled the scene within seconds.
The shooting came just one day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th national election, intensifying concern about security for candidates.
Doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital later said Hadi was in a critical condition and placed on life support before being transferred to a private hospital.
Government response: Yunus orders swift investigation
In a separate written statement, Yunus condemned the attack as “completely unacceptable” in an election environment and “deeply regrettable” for the country’s political climate.
He directed law-enforcement agencies to launch a swift and thorough investigation, collect CCTV footage, interview witnesses and identify everyone involved.
The Chief Adviser stressed that no act of violence aimed at disrupting the polls would be tolerated.
He said the state has a duty to ensure public safety and guarantee that all candidates can move freely and campaign without fear.
Medical treatment: state to bear Hadi’s healthcare costs
During the phone conversation with Hadi’s brother, Yunus said the government would bear all expenses related to the injured candidate’s treatment.
If doctors recommend treatment abroad, the state will arrange and finance care in any suitable foreign hospital, he added, according to the official Facebook post.
The Ministry of Health has been instructed to monitor Hadi’s condition closely and coordinate with his family.
Government officials say they are ready to provide any additional support if his condition changes.
Political reactions: attack seen as warning for upcoming polls
Opposition parties and civil-society groups have condemned the shooting and linked it to broader concerns about election-time violence.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) called the incident part of a “far-reaching plan” to sabotage the electoral environment, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh described it as a “grim warning” for the polls.
Activists from Inquilab Mancha and other youth platforms say the attack shows how vulnerable grassroots campaigners remain despite promises of reform.
Meanwhile, Yunus has urged all parties and supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation, arguing that only a peaceful environment can deliver credible elections.
As investigations continue, the condition of Sharif Osman Hadi and the authorities’ ability to bring the attackers to justice are likely to become key tests of the interim government’s commitment to free and fair elections.
Featured Image: Collected
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Suzan Seherin 