Violent Protests Erupt in Dhaka After Death of Student Leader Sharif Osman Hadi

Violence broke out in Bangladesh’s capital early Friday after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key student leader of the 2024 pro-democracy uprising. Hadi, 32, died in a Singapore hospital after being shot in an assassination attempt in Dhaka last week.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding the arrest of his killers. Several buildings, including the offices of the country’s largest newspapers, were set on fire. Staff were trapped inside as fires broke out.

Background of the Attack

Hadi was shot by masked assailants on December 12 while leaving a mosque in Dhaka. He was airlifted to Singapore for treatment, but succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.

Hadi was a senior leader of Inqilab Moncho and a parliamentary candidate for the February 2026 elections. He was a prominent critic of India, where former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remains in self-imposed exile.

Protests and Arson

After the news of Hadi’s death, protesters targeted multiple locations. At least three fires were reported, including at the Daily Star and Prothom Alo newspaper offices. Protesters accused the papers of siding with India.

Journalist Zyma Islam from the Daily Star reported being trapped inside the burning building, writing on Facebook about the smoke and danger. The fire at the Daily Star was later controlled, though 27 employees remained inside at the time.

Protesters also surrounded the residence of India’s deputy ambassador in Dhaka and blocked a key highway. Violence spread to Chittagong, where a former minister’s house was attacked. Chhayanaut, a cultural center in Dhaka, was also targeted.

Government Response

Singaporean authorities confirmed Hadi’s death and are assisting Bangladesh with repatriating his body. Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, called Hadi’s death “an irreparable loss for the nation.” Yunus said, “The country’s march toward democracy cannot be halted through fear, terror, or bloodshed.”

Special prayers were announced at mosques, and a half-day of mourning was declared for Saturday.

Manhunt for Assailants

Bangladesh police launched a manhunt for Hadi’s shooters. Photographs of two key suspects were released, and a reward of five million taka (around $42,000) was offered for information leading to their arrest.

Yunus described the shooting as a premeditated act by a powerful network aimed at disrupting the elections.

Political Context

Bangladesh, with a population of 170 million, will elect 300 lawmakers directly, with 50 more on a women’s list. The last elections in January 2024 gave Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League 222 seats, but the results were widely criticized as unfair.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is expected to perform strongly in the upcoming vote. Zia is currently in intensive care in Dhaka, while her son Tarique Rahman will return from exile in Britain on December 25 after 17 years.

Tensions remain high as the nation heads toward crucial elections amid political unrest and violent protests.