Dhaka : Violence erupted in Bangladesh’s capital early on Friday after Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in last year’s pro-democracy uprising, died in a hospital in Singapore following an assassination attempt. Several buildings, including offices housing the country’s two leading newspapers, were set on fire, trapping journalists and staff inside, authorities said.
Hadi, a senior leader of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha, was shot by masked assailants on December 12 as he was leaving a mosque in Dhaka. After initial treatment in Bangladesh, he was airlifted to Singapore in critical condition, where he died on Thursday. Protesters also hurled bricks and stones at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram at around 1:30 am, but caused no damage. Police dispersed the crowd using tear gas and baton charges and detained 12 protesters, while senior officials later assured the diplomat of security.
Fires broke out at buildings housing the English-language Daily Star and the Bengali-language Prothom Alo, the country’s largest newspapers. The papers have previously faced protests from groups accusing them of being aligned with India, where former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been living in self-imposed exile since being ousted in last year’s uprising. Firefighters brought the blaze at the Daily Star building under control at around 1:40 am (local time), officials said, though dozens of employees were still inside at the time. Staff were later evacuated.
Elsewhere, the residence of Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, a former education minister in the ousted Awami League government, was vandalised and set on fire overnight by protesters demanding justice for Osman Hadi, local media reported. In the northwestern city of Rajshahi, protesters used an excavator to demolish an Awami League office, calling for the arrest of those responsible for the killing of Inqilab Mancha founder.
Bangladesh’s interim government, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, confirmed the death shortly afterwards. “His demise is an irreparable loss for the nation,” Yunus said in a televised address. The government announced special prayers at mosques on Friday and declared a half-day of mourning on Saturday. Authorities said Hadi’s body was expected to arrive in Dhaka later on Friday.
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