Bangladesh unrest after Osman Hadi death sparks violent protests across major cities
Bangladesh was plunged into widespread unrest after the death of student leader and election candidate Sharif Osman Hadi, triggering violent protests in several cities and raising concerns about stability ahead of the country’s upcoming national elections.
Osman Hadi, a spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha platform, was shot in the head by masked assailants last Friday while launching his election campaign in Dhaka. He was initially rushed to a local hospital before being airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment. After spending six days on life support, he succumbed to his injuries late on Thursday.
Following news of his death, angry demonstrations erupted in the capital and other parts of the country. Videos circulating on social media showed mobs vandalising the offices of leading newspapers, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Fire service officials confirmed that a blaze at The Daily Star office was brought under control, while police refrained from issuing immediate statements.
Protesters chanted emotionally charged slogans invoking Osman Hadi’s name and demanded swift justice, vowing to continue their movement until those responsible were held accountable. Several neighbourhoods in Dhaka remained tense as additional police and paramilitary forces were deployed to prevent further violence.
Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, following the departure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after a student-led uprising. The country has since witnessed repeated protests over delayed political reforms, while Hasina’s party, which has been barred from contesting the upcoming elections scheduled for February 12, has warned of further unrest.
In a televised address to the nation, Yunus described Osman Hadi’s death as an “irreplaceable loss” to Bangladesh’s political and democratic landscape. He urged citizens to remain calm, assuring that a transparent investigation would be conducted and that all those responsible would be brought to justice. He warned that continued violence could undermine efforts to hold credible elections.
The interim government has declared Saturday a day of state mourning in honour of Osman Hadi, with national flags to be flown at half-mast and special prayers planned nationwide.
Meanwhile, unrest spread beyond Dhaka, with reports of violence in several cities. The historic home of Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was vandalised and set on fire again, while the premises of the renowned cultural organisation Chhayanaut were also torched. In Rajshahi, protesters demolished an Awami League office using heavy machinery, while major highways were blocked in multiple districts.
Violent incidents were also reported in Chittagong, where protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission and set ablaze a house belonging to a former Awami League education minister. The unrest followed fresh anti-India demonstrations earlier in the week, reflecting deteriorating ties between the two neighbours since Hasina’s departure to New Delhi.
As Bangladesh grapples with mounting political tension, the Bangladesh unrest after Osman Hadi death continues to pose serious challenges to security, governance and the credibility of the upcoming general elections.
