Suspect in Bangladeshi Islamist Leader’s Murder Claims He’s in Dubai, Rejects India’s Alleged Role
Dhaka: A key suspect in the assassination of Bangladeshi Islamist figure Sharif Osman Hadi has publicly denied any involvement in the crime and contradicted claims by Bangladesh’s interim government that he fled to India.
Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Daud and aged 37, released a video message stating he is currently in Dubai. In it, he insisted he played no part in the fatal shooting of Hadi, who succumbed on December 18, six days after being shot in the head.
Masud described the accusations against him as part of a “fabricated conspiracy,” explaining that the false charges compelled him to leave Bangladesh despite holding a valid five-year multiple-entry visa for Dubai. He said he reached the emirate only after facing significant difficulties.
On December 28, authorities in Dhaka announced that Masud and another primary suspect, Alamgir Sheikh, had escaped Bangladesh and entered India’s Meghalaya state with assistance from local contacts. Indian agencies swiftly dismissed these assertions as “fabricated and malicious.”
The development adds a new layer to the high-profile case surrounding Hadi’s death, directly challenging the narrative put forward by Bangladeshi officials and fueling diplomatic tensions.