Massive protests and violent unrest gripped Bangladesh overnight following the death of radical student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, renewing political turmoil and fuelling fresh anti-India sentiment across the country. Hadi, 32, a prominent face of the 2024 student uprising and spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha platform, died in a Singapore hospital while undergoing treatment after being shot by masked assailants in Dhaka earlier this month.
As news of his death broke, thousands of protesters poured onto the streets of Dhaka and several other cities, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. The demonstrations quickly turned violent, with mobs setting fire to buildings, including the offices of Bangladesh’s two leading newspapers, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, trapping journalists inside before emergency services intervened. At least 30 journalists were rescued, authorities said.
Violence spread beyond the capital. In Chittagong, protesters gathered outside the Indian Assistant High Commission, raising anti-India slogans, while in Rajshahi, demonstrators vandalised and torched an Awami League office and the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Several areas remained tense late into the night, prompting the deployment of additional police and paramilitary forces.
The unrest comes amid worsening relations between India and Bangladesh since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India after last year’s uprising. Radical groups have accused India of interfering in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, a claim New Delhi has strongly rejected. India has since issued a travel advisory, urging its citizens in Bangladesh to limit movement and remain cautious.
Interim chief Muhammad Yunus, addressing the nation, called Hadi’s death an “irreparable loss” and appealed for calm, assuring a transparent investigation. The interim government has declared a day of state mourning, even as fears grow that continued violence could derail the February 12 national elections and further destabilise the country.
