Guterres urges probe into Hadi killing, restraint ahead of polls

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ant¢nio Guterres has condemned the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability through a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation in line with international human rights standards.

UN spokesperson St‚phane Dujarric said at a regular press briefing in New York on Friday that the Secretary-General also called for restraint as Bangladesh moves toward parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2026.

Guterres appealed to all sides to "refrain from violence, reduce tensions and exercise maximum restraint in order to preserve a peaceful electoral environment." 

The killing also drew concern from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, who said he was "deeply troubled" by Hadi's death after he was shot on December 12.

In a statement issued in Geneva, Trk warned that "retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all," echoing calls for accountability for those responsible.