00:00These visuals are from the funeral of youth leader Sharif Usman Hadi in Dhaka on 20th December.
00:09Thousands gathered to bid farewell to the activist, turning his final rights into a large public event.
00:15What followed has since triggered a wider national debate.
00:18Sharif Usman Hadi was buried beside the grave of Bangladesh's national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, on the campus of Dhaka University.
00:25Nazrul Islam, known as the Bidrohi Kobi or rebel poet, is one of Bangladesh's most revered cultural figures.
00:32His mausoleum is widely seen as a national symbol.
00:35That is why the decision to bury Hadi at this site has sparked controversy.
00:39Supporters say burying Hadi beside Nazrul frames him as a modern-day rebel, someone who challenged power and inspired mass mobilization.
00:47Critics disagree.
00:48They argue that placing a polarizing political activist next to a unifying cultural icon blurs the line between national legacy and political symbolism.
00:58Following Hadi's death, unrest was reported in pass of Dhaka, prompting authorities to tighten security, including during the burial.
01:05With Sharif Usman Hadi now buried beside Kazi Nazrul Islam, a funeral has turned into a national conversation.
