A verified X (formerly Twitter) post by Colonel (Retd) Ajay K. Raina, a decorated Indian Army veteran, has triggered controversy after he shared a video of National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah and added the caption “Next Hadi,” a remark widely interpreted as an apparent threat referencing the recent shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of Inqilab Mancha.\
Hasnat Abdullah, NCP’s chief organiser for the southern region, made the original remarks on November 15 at an all-party rally at the Central Shaheed Minar, protesting the attack on Hadi. In his speech, Hasnat accused India of sheltering individuals allegedly involved in destabilising Bangladesh and warned that if such support continued, Bangladesh could reciprocate by offering refuge to separatist elements seeking to break away India’s northeastern “Seven Sisters” states.
Following the retweet, Colonel (Retd) Raina posted another message stating, “Neck! No headshot. Silence him first! Will also take care of small errors. #UnknownGunmen,” intensifying concerns over the nature and intent of the comments. The posts have circulated widely on social media, drawing condemnation from Bangladeshi users who view them as an endorsement of political violence.
The controversy comes amid claims circulating in various media threads that suspects involved in the attack on Sharif Osman Hadi fled to India and may have received shelter there, allegations that have further strained public sentiment. Neither Indian authorities nor the retired officer have issued an official clarification regarding the tweets at the time of reporting.
The incident has added a new dimension to the already tense political discourse surrounding cross-border relations, election security, and political violence in Bangladesh, raising questions about accountability and the role of influential foreign voices in sensitive domestic matters.
