Who is this Bappi, the mastermind behind Osman Hadir's murder?

Tajul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, an influential former councilor of Dhaka's Pallabi and Mirpur areas and leader of Pallabi Thana Jubo League, has been identified by the DB Police as the mastermind or 'mastermind' of the murder of Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadir, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha. The charge sheet filed in the court on January 6, 2026, mentions him as the direct orderer of the murder.

Bappi has long been the president of Pallabi Thana Jubo League and a former councilor of Ward No. 6 of the Dhaka North City Corporation. According to local sources, he had strong control over organizations and political activities in Mirpur, Pallabi and Rupnagar areas. At one time, he was called 'Jhut Bappi'; now many call him 'Pallabir Zamindar'.

He is also accused of dominating the area, extortion, forcibly occupying land and shops, setting up illegal markets on sidewalks and roads, and threatening and torturing political opponents. In 2022, residents of Mirpur and Rupnagar areas had accused him of beating and threatening to kill at a press conference. DB police said that the background behind these allegations is also related to the murder plan.

The investigation by DB police revealed that Hadi, as the spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, was targeted based on his consistent anti-Awami League political stance and activities. On Bappi's orders, a killer group including Faisal Karim Masud implemented the murder plan. The incident took place on December 12 in Paltan's Bijoynagar area. Hadi, who was seriously injured, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and later to a private hospital. He was taken to Singapore for better treatment on December 15, but died on December 18. A total of 17 people have been charged in the incident so far; 12 of them have been arrested, some are still absconding.