UN rights chief urges probe into Bangladesh student leader’s killing

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A man holding a photo depicting prominent activist Sharif Osman Hadi, as a crowd gathers to protest over his death in Dhaka, on Dec 19.

PHOTO: EPA

Summary

• UN rights chief Volker Turk is alarmed by the killing of student protest leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Bangladesh.
• Turk urges authorities to investigate the attack promptly and impartially, ensuring accountability and due process.
• He calls for calm amid protests and stresses the importance of free expression before the 2026 elections.

AI generated

GENEVA - The United Nations human rights chief voiced alarm on Dec 19 at the killing of Bangladesh student protest leader Sharif Osman Hadi, calling for a swift and impartial investigation.

Mr Hadi, a key figure in 2024’s pro-democracy uprising, was shot by masked gunmen while leaving a mosque in the capital Dhaka last week.

He was initially wounded and flown to Singapore for treatment, but eventually

succumbed to his wounds

“I urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Hadi’s death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible,” UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.

He urged calm as protesters rallied across Bangladesh for a second straight day, demanding the arrest of the gunman.

“Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,” he warned.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2026, Mr Turk stressed that it was vital to ensure an environment where all individuals could participate safely and