US Based Sikh Secessionist Group Announces 5.5 Million Taka Reward for Information on Osman Hadi’s Assassins

In a dramatic escalation of accusations surrounding the assassination of Bangladeshi youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, the U.S. based Sikh separatist organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) announced on December 29, 2025, a reward of 5.5 million Bangladeshi Taka (approximately $46,000 USD) for credible information leading to the location, arrest, and extradition of those responsible for Hadi’s killing. The group, known for its advocacy of an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan, framed the bounty as part of a broader campaign against what it describes as India’s “transnational repression.”

SFJ’s general counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, released a statement alleging that Hadi’s murder was orchestrated by the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pannun claimed the operation was planned through India’s High Commission in Dhaka and executed by local operatives, with the primary assassin fleeing to India afterward. He specifically accused Pranay Verma, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, of coordinating the plot on the ground. “This is another example of India’s transnational terrorism,” Pannun stated, drawing parallels to the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which Canada has linked to Indian agents, a charge New Delhi vehemently denies.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in Bangladesh following Hadi’s death. Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a 32 year old spokesperson for the youth platform Inqilab Moncho, was shot in the head by masked assailants on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka’s Paltan area as he left a mosque. He was airlifted to Singapore General Hospital on December 15, 2025, where he succumbed to his injuries on December 18, 2025. His death sparked widespread violent protests across Bangladesh, including arson attacks on media offices and cultural sites, fueled by extraordinary anti-India sentiment.

Hadi rose to prominence during the 2024 student led “July Revolution” that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League government was accused of authoritarianism. A vocal critic of perceived Indian influence in Bangladesh, Hadi had gained notoriety for circulating maps depicting a “Greater Bangladesh” incorporating parts of India’s Northeast and West Bengal. He was preparing to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 12, 2026, as an independent candidate.

Bangladeshi authorities, under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, declared a national day of mourning on December 20, 2025, and offered their own reward of 5 million taka for information on the shooters. Police identified two primary suspects and believe they fled across the border to India, prompting Dhaka to seek New Delhi’s cooperation in their extradition, a request that has gone unanswered publicly.

SFJ’s intervention injects an unexpected international dimension into the case. Founded in 2007 and based in New York, Sikhs for Justice is banned in India as an unlawful association and has been labeled a terrorist entity. The group has previously announced bounties on Indian officials, including a $500,000 reward in 2024 for information on Canada’s Indian High Commissioner amid the Nijjar controversy. Pannun himself faces charges in the U.S. related to alleged plots against Indian nationals, though SFJ maintains its campaigns are non-violent and focused on human rights advocacy through referendums.

Critics view SFJ’s move as opportunistic, exploiting Bangladesh’s post revolution anti-India fervor to advance its Khalistan movement. Yet, in Dhaka’s charged atmosphere, where protesters have targeted Indian diplomatic interests and accused New Delhi of harboring the assassins, the SFJ bounty resonates with those demanding accountability.

India has rejected the allegations. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi described SFJ’s claims as “baseless and absurd,” claiming that the group spreads disinformation to undermine India’s global standing. Indian officials point out that Hadi’s killing occurred amid Bangladesh’s internal political instability, with some local voices, including Hadi’s own brother, accusing elements within the Yunus administration of orchestrating it to derail elections.

The reward announcement has raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles. U.S. authorities have not commented directly, but SFJ operates freely in America under First Amendment protections, despite India’s repeated requests to designate it a terrorist organization. In Bangladesh, the interim government has prioritized investigating the assassination, arresting several suspects while urging calm to prevent further unrest.

Hadi’s funeral on December 20, 2025, drew tens of thousands, including Yunus himself, underscoring his status as a martyr for many in the anti-Hasina movement. His death has deepened Bangladesh’s divisions: secularists worry about rising radicalism, while nationalists decry foreign interference.

As investigations continue, questions persist. Was Hadi’s killing a political hit tied to Bangladesh’s turbulent transition, or part of a larger pattern of cross-border intrigue by increasingly hegemonic India? With elections looming and anti-India rhetoric surging, the 5.5 million taka reward serves as a stark reminder of how local grievances can attract global actors.

The case also highlights the evolving role of diaspora groups in South Asian conflicts. SFJ’s involvement, while marginal in Bangladesh itself, amplifies narratives of Indian overreach, echoing debates in Canada and the U.S. over Sikh separatism. For now, the bounty remains symbolic, informants are directed to contact SFJ anonymously, but it underscores the fragility of regional stability.

Bangladesh’s youth, emboldened by last year’s uprising, demand justice without foreign agendas. Yet, as 2025 closes, Hadi’s assassination reveals how old rivalries and new alliances continue to shape the subcontinent’s volatile politics.