Bangladesh has been plunged into nationwide unrest following the death of student leader and political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, triggering violent protests, attacks on media houses, and communal lynching.
International concern is mounting ahead of national elections scheduled for February.
Sharif Osman Hadi, founder and spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho and a prominent figure of the July Uprising, was shot in the head last week while riding a rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area during his election campaign. The attackers were two bike-borne assailants who fled the scene.
Hadi was initially rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital. After doctors stabilised him sufficiently for evacuation, he was airlifted to Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he remained in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit for six days. He succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, a development confirmed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Police investigations identified Faisal Karim Masud as a prime suspect in the killing. A cab driver, Nuruzzaman Nomani, was remanded for assisting Masud, while Masud’s parents were arrested earlier this week by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), according to Dhaka Tribune.
News of Hadi’s death sparked intense protests from Thursday midnight across Dhaka and other parts of the country. Supporters of Hadi and Inqilab Moncho took to the streets demanding justice, with demonstrations quickly escalating into vandalism and arson.
Protesters set fire to the offices of leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as the Chhayanaut Bangla cultural centre and the partially demolished Dhanmondi 32, the historic home of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In Chattogram, demonstrators hurled stones at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner, accusing India of sheltering Hadi’s attackers. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges, detaining at least 12 people.
Slogans such as “Delhi or Dhaka: Dhaka, Dhaka”, “Hadi Bhai’s blood will not go in vain”, and “We have shed blood; we will shed more” were raised during protests. Demonstrators accused Prothom Alo and The Daily Star of siding with India and enabling former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, allegations both newspapers strongly denied.
The Daily Star later reported that protesters blocked fire service vehicles for hours, delaying the rescue of 28 journalists trapped inside the burning building, despite repeated attempts by police, army personnel, and firefighters to disperse the crowd.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus condemned what he described as mob violence by fringe elements and appealed to citizens to reject hatred and incitement at a “critical moment of democratic transition.” He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to holding free and fair elections, stating that the upcoming polls and referendum were a national obligation tied to Hadi’s sacrifice.
Yunus vowed “no leniency” for Hadi’s killers, announced a one-day state mourning, and ordered nationwide prayers. He also held separate conversations with the editors of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, expressing deep distress over the attacks and assuring them of the government’s support.
The interim government formally wrote to Meta, urging the company to remove violence-inciting content from Facebook and monitor Bangladesh-related content until elections conclude, alleging attempts to sabotage the electoral process and incite attacks on media organisations.
Hadi’s body was flown back to Dhaka on Friday evening aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight and kept overnight at the National Heart Institute.
Funeral prayers (namaz-e-janaza) are scheduled for Saturday at 2 pm at Manik Mia Avenue near the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament). Following the family’s request, Hadi will be buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, near the Dhaka University Central Mosque.
Security has been significantly tightened ahead of the funeral, with around 1,000 Dhaka Metropolitan Police officers, many equipped with body cameras, deployed at the venue. Authorities have banned bags, heavy objects, and vehicular movement near the Parliament area as crowds continue to swell.
Amid the unrest, a tragic incident was reported from Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, where a seven-year-old daughter of a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was burned to death after miscreants locked the family’s house from outside and set it on fire. BNP leader Belal Hossain and his two teenage daughters sustained critical burn injuries. It remains unclear whether the attack was directly linked to the ongoing protests.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir later alleged that the violence following Hadi’s death was part of a conspiracy to destabilise the country ahead of the February elections.
Separately, the country was shaken by the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das (27), a Hindu factory worker in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, who was beaten to death over allegations of blasphemy. His body was reportedly tied upside down to a tree and set on fire.
Author Taslima Nasreen alleged that Das was under police protection at the time of the attack, claiming police had rescued him from a mob before he was killed.
Chief Adviser Yunus confirmed that seven suspects have been arrested in the case. He reiterated that communal violence has no place in a “new Bangladesh.”
The unrest has drawn sharp international attention. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was “deeply disturbed” by Hadi’s killing and urged Bangladesh to conduct a swift, impartial, transparent investigation while ensuring accountability.
With elections due in February, Türk stressed the need to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and journalists’ safety, warning that violence and retaliation would deepen divisions. He said the United Nations stands ready to support efforts to prevent further unrest.
The European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights also expressed condolences, with its chair, Mounir Satouri, stating that confronting electoral violence is essential for a free, fair, and participatory democratic process.