Violence erupted in Bangladesh after radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi died in Singapore, triggering arson attacks on major newspaper offices, political protests in Dhaka, and renewed concerns over law and order under the interim government.
Widespread violence erupted across Bangladesh following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, the spokesperson of the radical group Inqilab Mancha, triggering a fresh wave of unrest and raising serious concerns over the country’s deteriorating law and order situation.
Hadi died on Thursday night while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Singapore, six days after sustaining critical gunshot injuries in a targeted attack in Dhaka. His death was officially confirmed by interim government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus during a late-night address to the nation, according to state-run media reports. The Inqilab Mancha organization also announced Hadi’s death through its official social media platforms.
The radical leader had been airlifted to Singapore on Monday after his condition worsened at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where he remained on life support. Despite intensive medical intervention, Hadi succumbed to his injuries, triggering immediate and violent reactions across parts of the capital.
Within hours of the announcement, an angry mob set fire to the building housing Bangladesh’s leading English-language daily, The Daily Star, in the Karwan Bazar area of Dhaka early Friday morning. Thick smoke engulfed the premises as six firefighting units rushed to control the blaze. Several journalists and staff members were reportedly trapped inside the building during the attack, prompting the deployment of Bangladesh Army personnel to secure the area.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers vandalized the premises before igniting the fire, forcing employees to seek shelter as chaos unfolded outside. Security forces eventually established a perimeter, but tensions remained high as protesters continued to gather nearby.
In a separate but related incident, another group of protesters marched from Shahbagh toward Karwan Bazar and surrounded the headquarters of Prothom Alo, one of the country’s most influential newspapers. Police personnel deployed at the scene attempted to disperse the crowd, but failed to restore order as the situation rapidly escalated.
According to reports, the attack on the Prothom Alo office began late Thursday night when protesters armed with sticks and metal rods smashed window panes and damaged office property. Around midnight, some protesters allegedly forced their way into the building and set fire to furniture and important documents outside the premises. Several journalists and staff members were reportedly trapped inside as fear and panic spread.
A journalist present at the scene confirmed that employees were unable to leave the building due to the volatile situation, while security forces struggled to contain the mob.
Meanwhile, political protests intensified across the capital. Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of the National Citizen Party, staged a demonstration in Dhaka, burning an effigy of interim government Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. The group demanded his immediate resignation, accusing him of failing to arrest those responsible for the attack on Hadi and allowing public security to deteriorate.
The student group also announced plans to hold a symbolic funeral procession for Hadi, further heightening fears of continued unrest.
“We are not making any demands for arrests because the home advisor is unfit for this position,” Jatiya Chhatra Shakti President Zahid Ahsan was quoted as saying. “You cannot make demands to an irresponsible authority when public safety has collapsed.”
Sharif Osman Hadi had emerged as a controversial political figure in recent months and was considered a potential independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming February elections. His growing influence and radical rhetoric had drawn both support and criticism across political circles.
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Hadi was shot in the head in broad daylight on December 12 in the Bijoynagar area of Dhaka. According to police accounts, the attackers arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire as Hadi was traveling in a rickshaw near the Box Culvert area. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the shooting, and no arrests have been made so far.
The killing and its aftermath have intensified scrutiny of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, with opposition voices and civil society groups warning that Bangladesh is witnessing a dangerous surge in political violence, mob aggression, and attacks on media institutions.
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Observers say the targeting of major newspaper offices represents a troubling escalation, threatening press freedom and democratic stability at a time when the country is preparing for national elections. As security forces remain on high alert, fears persist that further unrest could erupt unless decisive action is taken to restore law and order.
