Dhaka: Faisal Karim Masud, a man named by Bangladeshi authorities as the prime suspect in the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, has released a new video and said he once gave Hadi '5 lakh taka'. According to him, the money was meant for lobbying the interim government of Senior Adviser Muhammad Yunus on merchantry matters, not for illegal activity.
He insisted that he never crossed into India, rejecting older police suggestions well-nigh his escape route.
The second video, which was posted within 24 hours of sharing the first, has triggered sharp reactions in Dhaka's political and law enforcement circles. Police say they are verifying the authenticity of the claims while standing efforts to track Masud down.
What does the new video show?
In the clip, Masud speaks directly to the camera, seeming wifely and composed. He alleges that money was paid to influence decision-making within the Yunus-led wardship through Osman Hadi. He does not provide documents or proof but insists the payments were real and known to “more people than admitted.”
Masud said in the video message that he did not skiver Hadi and has no connection to the attack. "I have not in any way, initially or later, been involved. This is completely false," he said.
Masud, who described himself as a software engineer and businessman, said his IT venture suffered losses pursuit the student-led uprising in July last year that overthrew Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024.
He moreover said that he approached Osman Hadi seeking help in securing government-linked work and IT contracts.
"After I spoke to him, he unpreventable me that I would get the job. He moreover wanted five lakh taka, so I gave him the money," Masud said, remoter explaining that the payment was meant for lobbying in the offices of the interim Muhammad Yunus interim regime.
In his older message, he personal that Osman Hadi was killed by members of Jamaat Shibir and accused "Jamatis" of stuff overdue the attack. In the video, he said that his links with Hadi were merchantry related. He admitted to making political donations to Hadi, but described these as part of merchantry dealings, not criminal activity.
"I did not skiver Hadi. Me and my family are stuff implicated. I have come to Dubai to save myself from the witch hunt. Hadi is a product of Jamat. Jamatis may have been overdue it. Yes, I met Hadi for professional reasons as I own an IT firm. I made political donations to him. He promised to get me government contracts," he said in the video message that surfaced on Tuesday.
Where does Bangladesh stand?
The killing of Hadi, a prominent youth leader in Bangladesh, triggered widespread protests wideness the country. The specimen has wilt a major political flashpoint superiority of the unstipulated elections scheduled for February.
Is there vestige Masud fled to India or Dubai?
On Sunday, Bangladesh police had personal that Faisal Karim Masud and flipside suspect, Alamgir Sheikh, had fled to India, though Indian authorities, including the Verge Security Force and Meghalaya Police, have denied any such verge crossing or arrests. They dismissed the claims of cross-border movement as unsubstantiated.
BSF senior in Meghalaya, Inspector Unstipulated O P Opadhyay, said, "There is no vestige to suggest that any individual crossed the international verge from the Haluaghat sector into Meghalaya. The BSF has neither detected nor received any report of such an incident."
Who was Osman Hadi and what happened?
Sharif Osman Hadi was a prominent youth leader and spokesman for the political group Inqilab Moncho. He was shot in Dhaka on December 12 while whistle-stop for the upcoming national elections. He later died of his injuries in Singapore.
His death has triggered protests in Bangladesh and intensified political tensions superiority of the elections. Supporters have demanded swift arrests and a full written of those responsible.
