Violent demonstrations have erupted across Bangladesh following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader who played a central role in last year’s student-led movement that led to the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hadi, 32, was shot last week in Dhaka and succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at a hospital in Singapore. Supporters are gathering at Shahbag in central Dhaka ahead of the arrival of his body later today.
Nadim Hawlader, a 32-year-old activist from Dhaka and member of a volunteer group linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), described Hadi’s killing as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent. Hawlader also accused India of exerting undue influence in Bangladesh since 1971 and backing Sheikh Hasina’s administration for the past 17 years, which he claims was marked by political repression. He further alleged that the perpetrators fled to India and vowed that protests would continue until those responsible, including Hasina, are brought to justice.
Protesters are also calling for the resignation of officials heading the Home Affairs and Law Ministries, citing failures to ensure Hadi’s security. Leading newspapers, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, reported receiving repeated threats before attacks on their offices, including an arson incident that trapped staff on the roof. Both papers have urged authorities to investigate and hold accountable those behind these attacks.
The U.S. embassy in Bangladesh extended condolences over Hadi’s death, expressing solidarity with the Bangladeshi people. Meanwhile, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus condemned the ongoing violence, including the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh, and pledged to pursue accountability. Yunus stressed that such acts of violence cannot be allowed to derail the country’s democratic transition and upcoming elections in February.
Hadi’s body is expected to arrive in Dhaka from Singapore at 6:05 p.m. local time. Plans have been announced to receive his remains at Shahbag Square before a public gathering at Dhaka University’s central mosque. Mosques across the country are holding special prayers, with a national day of mourning scheduled for tomorrow.
Both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have publicly mourned Hadi, praising him as a frontline activist and commemorating his contributions. Several other political figures, including members of the Jatiya Party, have also paid tribute.
Student protesters and others continue to blame India for contributing to political instability. Demonstrations have occurred outside the Indian High Commission, with protesters demanding that figures associated with the previous government and Hasina be extradited to Bangladesh to face justice. Many students also allege that Indian intelligence agencies are stirring unrest ahead of the elections, allowing perpetrators of Hadi’s assassination to escape across the border.
Hadi, a leader of the Inquilab Moncho (Platform for Revolution), was shot while traveling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw in Dhaka on December 12. He suffered brain stem injuries and was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being transferred to Singapore General Hospital for specialized care. Police have released images of two suspects and offered a reward for information leading to their arrest, although the main shooter remains at large.
Hadi was instrumental in organizing last year’s protests that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. He planned to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections and was an outspoken critic of India’s influence in Bangladesh.
The unrest has spread beyond Dhaka, with demonstrators targeting pro-India newspapers, blocking highways, and attacking political offices and the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong. Arson at The Daily Star newsroom forced the evacuation of staff and temporarily halted production.
Supporters of Hadi vow to continue his movement and press for justice as tensions rise across the country.
