Bangladesh may have quietly moved Osman Hadi murder accused abroad: What Indian agencies find missing in Dhaka’s version

A man holds a placard as tens of thousands of people join the funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader, who died after being shot in the head, at the Parliament building area of Manik Mia Avenue, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 20, 2025. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain

Indian intelligence agencies allege Bangladesh facilitated Faisal Karim Masud’s exit amid the Osman Hadi murder probe, questioning Dhaka’s shifting narratives, lack of travel data sharing, and the credibility of a video claiming Masud is in Dubai.

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Indian intelligence agencies have raised sharp concerns over Bangladesh’s handling of Faisal Karim Masud, a notified individual and prime accused in the Osman Hadi murder case, alleging that Dhaka itself facilitated his exit from the country to manage domestic backlash and weaken the investigation, senior officials told CNN-News18.

According to top intelligence sources cited by CNN-News18, Masud’s movement out of Bangladesh could not have taken place without the knowledge and clearance of senior authorities, including immigration and law enforcement agencies. Officials insist that Masud was a formally notified person, making any international travel impossible without institutional approval.

“He is a notified person. Such an exit cannot happen quietly or without institutional approval,” a senior source told CNN-News18.

Indian agencies are questioning a video that has surfaced publicly, which appears to show Masud claiming that he is in Dubai. Investigators say the clip lacks basic forensic credibility and was filmed against a neutral background with no identifiable markers. Intelligence officials believe the video may have been recorded earlier and released deliberately to project that Masud is now beyond Bangladesh’s jurisdiction.

“This appears designed to remove pressure from Dhaka and to control public anger by suggesting the suspect is beyond reach,” a source said, adding that the Dubai narrative emerged only after domestic scrutiny intensified inside Bangladesh.

Further doubts have been raised over Bangladesh’s refusal to share basic travel data that would normally be exchanged in sensitive cases. Despite established counter-terror and intelligence coordination mechanisms between India and Bangladesh, Dhaka has not provided flight manifests, passenger name records, or transit details related to Masud’s alleged travel to Dubai.

“This silence suggests the intent was to move him quietly,” an intelligence official told CNN-News18.

Adding to the confusion, Indian agencies point out that Bangladesh initially claimed Masud had crossed into India through the Meghalaya border with alleged help from Indian handlers. That version was abandoned within 48 hours. Dhaka then advanced the Dubai claim and allowed the video to circulate publicly.

From New Delhi’s perspective, this abrupt shift has been interpreted as narrative control rather than a fact-based investigation.

“This is not how credible cross-border investigations are conducted,” a source said. “The problem has been externalised to reduce domestic scrutiny.”

Indian officials also stress that the video cannot be treated as legal or investigative proof without forensic authentication and independent confirmation of Masud’s location.

“This is a classic case of moving the issue outside national jurisdiction,” a senior intelligence source told CNN-News18, warning that such handling could damage trust between regional partners.

The episode comes despite longstanding cooperation between India and Bangladesh on counter-terrorism and criminal investigations. Indian agencies emphasise that transparency and timely information-sharing are essential to maintaining confidence in joint security efforts, especially in high-profile cases involving serious crimes.

For New Delhi, the Masud case has now become less about a single suspect and more about Bangladesh’s credibility as a partner in regional security cooperation.