New details have emerged about the armed attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency and spokesperson of the Inqilab Manch. He was shot and fled by two motorcycle-borne assailants in Bijoynagar, the capital, on Friday afternoon.
CCTV footage from a building near the incident shows two young men speeding away on motorcycles within seconds of hearing gunshots at 2:20 pm. Analysis of the footage shows one wearing a black Punjabi, a shawl around his neck and light blue pants; the other wearing a black blazer, mask and glasses.
Police said the attackers’ clothing matched that of two masked men at another public relations event in the area. They are believed to have been present in Hadi’s vicinity before.
Motijheel Division Deputy Police Commissioner Harun Or Rashid said, “CCTV footage is being collected and analyzed. This will provide important information to reveal the identity of the attackers.”
Witnesses said that after Friday prayers, two men on a black motorcycle shot Hadi in the head from close range. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, where doctors said the bullet was lodged in his brain and he was put on life support.
Earlier in November, Osman Hadi revealed that he had received death threats from domestic and foreign numbers. He claimed that his family had also been subjected to various forms of intimidation.
Law enforcement agencies have intensified their investigation into the attack. Security has been increased in the capital ahead of the election.