Hadi Effect: Bangladesh On High Alert Ahead Of BNP Leader Tarique Rahman’s Return From Exile

Bangladesh has been placed on an alert following the assassination of youth leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, an incident that has sent shockwaves through the country’s political and security establishment.

After Osman Hadi, another leader linked to the students’ movement was shot on Monday, December 22. Motaleb Shikdar, a leader of the Jatiya Sramik Shakti, the labour wing affiliated with the National Citizen Party (NCP), was shot.

The killings have triggered a heightened state of alert marked by extraordinary preventive measures, particularly as the nation prepares for the return of a key opposition leader.

The most visible focus of the security build-up is Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who is set to return to the country after 17 years in exile. His homecoming is widely seen as a politically significant moment, carrying the potential to reshape the opposition landscape ahead of crucial political developments. Against the backdrop of recent violence, authorities appear determined to leave little to chance.

As part of these measures, the government has imposed sweeping restrictions at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. From Wednesday evening, December 24, to Thursday evening, December 25, entry into the airport premises will be strictly limited. Only scheduled passengers will be allowed access, while all visitors — including greeters, relatives and other non-essential individuals — will be barred for a full 24-hour period.

Officials have described the move as a “complete ban on visitor entry” during this window, citing reasons related to “passenger service, security and operational discipline, for special operational and security reasons.” Such a blanket restriction is rare in Bangladesh and underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the current threat perception.

Security sources indicate that the assassination of Hadi has raised concerns about potential copycat attacks, targeted violence, or attempts to disrupt high-profile movements. The return of Tarique Rahman, a long-time political figure with a large support base, is viewed as a particularly sensitive event that could attract both mass mobilisation and hostile elements.

Beyond the airport, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are understood to be coordinating closely, with additional deployments expected along key routes and at strategic locations. While officials have not publicly detailed the full scope of the security plan, the emphasis appears to be on prevention, crowd control and rapid response.

For many Bangladeshis, the developments reflect a tense and uncertain political moment.