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SYLHET: The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 season began on a sombre note on Friday as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) paid tribute to slain youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi ahead of the tournament’s opening match in Sylhet.
Before the first ball was bowled in the season opener between debutants Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans, players from both teams, match officials, and spectators observed a minute’s silence in memory of Hadi.
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Fans inside the stadium joined in prayer, creating a poignant moment that underlined the national impact of his death.
Hadi, who passed away on December 18, 2025, was a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s 2024 student-led uprising and was widely regarded as one of the emerging voices of the country’s youth politics.
He served as a spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha, translated as the “Platform for Revolution,” and was preparing to contest the upcoming general elections as a parliamentary candidate from Dhaka-8’s Bijoynagar constituency.
The 32-year-old succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Singapore, where he had been undergoing treatment following an assassination attempt earlier this month in Dhaka.
The BCB’s decision to honour Hadi at the BPL opener was seen as a gesture of solidarity, acknowledging his influence beyond politics and recognising his standing as a symbol of youth activism in the country.
The tribute marked the start of a new BPL season that brings significant changes to the league’s landscape.
The 2025–26 edition features several new franchises, including Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, Sylhet Titans and Noakhali Express. Established sides Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders also return to the tournament.
