Violent protests have swept through major cities in Bangladesh following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
Hadi, the 32-year-old spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha platform and a candidate for the upcoming general elections, died in a Singapore hospital six days after being shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka on December 12. As news of his passing reached the capital, mobs attacked and set fire to the offices of the country’s leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, while thousands of demonstrators blocked key intersections in Chittagong and Sylhet to demand immediate justice.
This escalation is rooted in the deep political vacuum created after the student-led “Monsoon Revolution” in August 2024, which forced long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India. Since then, an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has struggled to stabilise the nation amidst a surge in sectarian tensions and anti-India sentiment.
The death of Hadi, a vocal critic of the previous regime and a popular figure among the youth, has reignited fears of targeted political assassinations designed to derail the national elections. The interim government has declared a day of national mourning, with flags at half-staff and additional paramilitary forces deployed to safeguard critical infrastructure against further arson.
Tensions have been further exacerbated by deteriorating relations with New Delhi, following the recent arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and ongoing protests at the Indian High Commission. Critics of the interim government argue that the lack of a formal police structure since the August uprising has allowed vigilante groups and masked hit squads to operate with impunity.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation, appealing for calm and promising a transparent investigation into Hadi’s murder, warning that continued anarchy would only benefit those seeking to return to authoritarian rule.