The death of 32-year-old youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi has sparked a wave of violent unrest across Bangladesh.

Hadi, the spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha and a candidate for the upcoming general elections, succumbed to gunshot wounds at a Singapore hospital on Thursday. He was shot in the head by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle in central Dhaka on 12 December.

Following the news of his passing, hundreds of supporters gathered in the capital to demand immediate justice. These protests escalated into arson, with mobs attacking the offices of the Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo and the English-language Daily Star.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has declared a day of national mourning and urged for calm as the interim government seeks to stabilise the volatile situation.

Bangladesh Protest

Sharif Osman Hadi emerged as a significant figure during the July Uprising that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As a key advocate for the rights of martyrs and a vocal critic of perceived foreign hegemony, his leadership resonated deeply with the Bangladeshi youth.

The assassination attempt occurred while he was actively campaigning in the Bijoynagar area, highlighting the growing security concerns ahead of the national polls. In the aftermath of his death, protesters accused major media outlets of serving external interests rather than the national cause.

This deep-seated resentment culminated in the midnight siege of the Karwan Bazar media hub. The interim administration now faces the daunting task of ensuring a peaceful democratic transition while addressing the public’s grievances.

Daily Star Building on Fire

The violence at the newspaper offices reached a critical point as protesters set the Daily Star building on fire, trapping several staff members inside the smoke-filled premises. Firefighters were eventually able to bring the blaze under control, but the damage to infrastructure and the sense of security within the press community is extensive.

In a televised address to the nation, Muhammad Yunus described Hadi as a fearless fighter and his demise as an irreparable loss for the country. He promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and announced that the government would take responsibility for the welfare of Hadi’s family.

Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt for the shooters, offering a significant reward for information that leads to their capture and prosecution.

Journalists Safely Rescued

In a harrowing overnight escalation, at least 25 journalists from The Daily Star were rescued more than four hours after a mob stormed their office in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar. The crowd descended on the English-language daily around midnight on Friday, shortly after a similar attack on the Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo.

Protesters vandalised the buildings and set parts of the premises on fire while chanting slogans. Reporters trapped inside shared desperate messages on social media as smoke filled the corridors. Firefighters, initially blocked by the crowd, eventually managed to control the blaze, allowing the Army to escort the staff to safety.

Vandalism Of Chhayanaut

The unrest extended beyond media houses to include significant cultural and historic landmarks. An angry mob vandalised and set fire to the premises of the historic Bengali cultural organisation, Chhayanaut, in Dhaka.

This institute has long been a key centre for the promotion of arts and culture in the country. Simultaneously, the former home of Bangladesh’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, located in Dhanmondi 32, was targeted.

Now a museum, the historic building was attacked in the afternoon, with parts of the structure damaged and set ablaze. Police reports indicate that the historic site has been left largely in ruins following the violent surge.

Awami League Office Vandalized

In Rajshahi, the anger of the demonstrators took a physical form against the infrastructure of the disbanded Awami League. Protesters brought a bulldozer to the party’s Kumarpara office around 1:30 am on Friday and began demolishing the building.

This act followed hours of marches through the Rajshahi University campus where students demanded justice for Hadi. Meanwhile, the political landscape remains tense as BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman expressed his deep sorrow.

He described Hadi’s killing as a tragic reminder of the human cost of political violence and requested the interim government to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and punished with the utmost priority.

Anti-India Protest in Bangladesh

Diplomatic tensions also flared as demonstrators staged an overnight sit-in outside the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram. Gathering near the Khulshi office around 11 pm on Thursday, the protesters shouted slogans against both the Awami League and India, accusing external forces of interference.

Police reported that the crowd also assembled at a nearby gate before officers intervened to push the demonstrators away from the premises.

The security of diplomatic buildings has become a major concern for the interim administration as anti-India sentiment continues to rise amongst certain factions of the protesters following the death of the Inqilab Mancha spokesperson.

State Mourning Declared

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation on Friday, formally declaring Saturday as a national day of mourning. He described Sharif Osman Hadi as a fearless frontline fighter of the July Uprising whose loss is irreparable for the nation.

During the period of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government and private buildings, as well as at Bangladesh’s missions abroad.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At The Logical Indian, we believe that the loss of a young leader is a tragedy that should unite a nation in grief and reflection rather than divide it through violence. While the demand for justice is legitimate, the targeting of media houses and the use of arson are deeply counterproductive.

Such actions threaten the very principles of democracy and free speech that the people of Bangladesh have fought so hard to reclaim. We urge all citizens to embrace the path of peace, empathy, and constructive dialogue during this period of transition.