Osman Hadi Murder Case: Key Suspect Location Remains Unclear

The whereabouts of Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the assassination of Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, remain unknown, law enforcement officials have confirmed. Senior police authorities admit there is no verified information on whether Faisal Karim is still in Bangladesh or has crossed the border. Investigators are, however, pursuing every possible lead in the case.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon, Additional Inspector General of Police (Crime & OPS), Khandakar Rafiqul Islam, stated that while investigators have obtained some intelligence about the suspect, his precise location remains uncertain. The briefing, held at 5:30 pm, also addressed Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 and the broader law and order situation in the country.

Typically, such briefings are conducted by the Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, but neither he nor the Home Secretary, Nasimul Ghani, were present at this session.

The press conference was convened after Osman Hadi’s political platform, Inquilab Manch, had demanded accountability within 24 hours from the Home Adviser and his Special Assistant for the arrest of Hadi’s killers. Failing to meet this deadline, the organisation had called for their resignation.

Law enforcement representatives including DIG Rafiqul Islam, DMP Additional Commissioner (Detective) Shafiqul Islam, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime & Ops) SN Md. Nazrul Islam, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury, and BGB Mymensingh Sector Commander Colonel MM Mostafizur Rahman updated reporters on the investigation.

According to the officials, ten individuals have been arrested in connection with the case so far. However, the motive—whether personal or political—remains under investigation. When questioned about social media reports suggesting Faisal Karim had fled to a neighbouring country, police stated that while such images exist, their authenticity and location could not be verified.

Colonel Mostafizur Rahman of BGB Mymensingh Sector added that the suspect’s alleged accomplice, identified as Philip, is linked to human trafficking. The BGB is deploying all available resources and intelligence tools to apprehend him, and operations are ongoing.

Osman Hadi, a prominent Inquilab Manch figure and July uprising activist, had been campaigning as an independent candidate in Dhaka-8. He was shot while returning from a rally in Motijheel on 12 December and succumbed to injuries six days later in a Singapore hospital. Faisal Karim Masud, a former student league leader, has been identified as the prime suspect, though his current location remains unknown.

Optional Table: Osman Hadi Case – Investigation Overview