He urged the authorities to carry out “a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation, in accordance with international human rights standards” and called for restraint as Bangladesh approaches parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2026, its spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at a regular news conference in New York.
Guterres also called for calm and urged all parties to “refrain from resorting to violence, reduce tensions and exercise maximum restraint to preserve a peaceful electoral environment.”
The killing also sparked similar concern from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who said he was “deeply concerned” by Mr Hadi’s death after he was shot last week.
“Reprisals and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,“Türk said in a statement issued in Geneva, echoing calls for those responsible to be held accountable.
New discomfort
Youth leader Hadi, 32, was shot by masked assailants on December 12 as he left a mosque in Dhaka, according to media reports. He was flown to a Singapore hospital for treatment, where he later died from his injuries.
Following the announcement of his death on Thursday, protests broke out in several parts of Bangladesh.
Media reports further claimed that thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital and some buildings were set on fire or vandalized. Authorities said several properties, including buildings housing major newspapers, were set on fire and journalists were reportedly assaulted during the unrest.
A fragile political moment
The unrest comes against the backdrop of a dramatic political shift last year. In July 2024, student-led protests initially demanding reforms to civil service labor quotas were met with violent repression by security forces and pro-government groups.
Although the quota system was later withdrawn, the demonstrations expanded into a national movement calling for the resignation of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and accountability for the violent repression of the protests.
By early August, the situation had worsened dramatically. Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh since 2009 following a previous term from 1996 to 2001, fled the country on August 5 amid mounting pressure.
A UN-led investigation later found that up to 1,400 people – including many children – may have died during the unrest in July and August, and thousands more had been injured.
Protect fundamental freedoms
Hadi emerged as one of the movement’s most prominent youth leaders and, according to media reports, had planned to run for parliament in the February 2026 elections.
With the campaign set to begin soon, the UN human rights chief emphasized that it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can safely and peacefully participate in public life and freely express different points of view.
“I urge the authorities to defend the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and the safety of journalists at this critical time, and to prevent further escalation of unrest.”said Mr. Türk.