Bangladesh is experiencing widespread unrest following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader of the Inqilab Mancha. Hadi, who was also a vocal critic of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained in an assassination attempt last week. He died in a Singapore hospital, where he was receiving treatment.
The news of Hadi's death sparked immediate protests in Dhaka, with thousands of supporters taking to the streets to demand justice. The protests quickly spread to other parts of the country. Demonstrators attacked media houses, political offices, cultural institutions, and private residences, leading to vandalism, arson, and road blockades.
Several media outlets were targeted in the violence. The offices of the English-language daily The Daily Star and the Bangla daily Prothom Alo were attacked and set ablaze. Journalists and staff were trapped inside the buildings as the fires spread. Firefighters rescued at least 25 journalists from The Daily Star. Both Prothom Alo and The Daily Star announced they would not publish Friday editions, and online operations were nearly paralyzed. The cultural institution Chhayanaut in Dhanmondi was also attacked, with protesters vandalizing and looting the building before setting it on fire.
In addition to the attacks on media houses, protesters also directed their anger towards India. Demonstrators in Chattogram gathered outside the Indian Assistant High Commission, chanting anti-India and anti-Awami League slogans. Some protesters hurled stones at the building. In Rajshahi, protesters attempted to march toward the office of a regional Indian diplomat but were stopped by police. Some members of the National Citizen Party (NCP) alleged that Hadi's assailants had fled to India. Protest leaders called on the interim government to shut the Indian High Commission until the suspects were returned.
The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, has declared Saturday a day of state mourning in honor of Hadi. Yunus expressed that Hadi's death was "an irreparable loss for the nation" and urged citizens to remain calm. He also vowed to bring those responsible for Hadi's murder to justice. Police have launched a nationwide manhunt for the attackers and are offering a reward for information leading to their arrest.
The situation in Bangladesh remains tense, with additional police and paramilitary forces deployed to prevent further violence. A parliamentary committee on external affairs has described the situation as "complex and evolving". The unrest follows a period of strained relations between Bangladesh and India since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to Delhi after a student-led uprising.
