Bangladesh is observing a day of national mourning following the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha, who succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained in an attack earlier this month. National flags are being flown at half-mast across all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private institutions, as well as at Bangladeshi missions abroad. The interim government’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, announced the mourning in a televised address, calling Hadi’s death an irreparable loss to the nation’s political and democratic landscape.

Hadi was shot in the head by two assailants on a motorcycle in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12, a day after the announcement of the 13th National Election and referendum schedule. He was initially treated in Dhaka before being transferred to Singapore General Hospital, where he died on Thursday night. His body was flown back to Dhaka on Friday evening. The funeral prayer is scheduled for Saturday at Manik Mia Avenue, followed by burial beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Nationwide protests have erupted demanding justice for his killing.