Bangladesh Gripped by Violence After Student Leader’s Death Sparks Anti-India
Dhaka – Bangladesh plunged into chaos overnight as thousands mourned the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent 32-year-old activist and spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha platform, whose passing ignited widespread protests laced with anti-India sentiment.
Hadi, a polarizing figure known for his outspoken criticism of India and his role in the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, succumbed to his injuries in a Singapore hospital on Thursday. He had been shot in the head by masked gunmen on a motorcycle the previous Friday while campaigning as an independent candidate for the upcoming February 12 general elections in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area.
News of his death triggered immediate demonstrations across major cities, including Dhaka and Chittagong. Crowds gathered at key sites such as Shahbagh Square in the capital, chanting slogans honoring Hadi and demanding the swift arrest of his killers. The protests quickly escalated, evolving into a broader anti-India campaign, with demonstrators accusing New Delhi of interference amid strained bilateral ties since Hasina’s flight to India last year.
In Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar district, angry mobs targeted media outlets, vandalizing and setting fire to buildings housing two of the country’s leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Staff were reportedly trapped inside during the blazes, though firefighters later brought the flames under control at The Daily Star office and rescued journalists.
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Separately, in Chittagong, large crowds assembled outside the Indian Assistant High Commission, raising anti-India slogans in a show of fury tied to the ongoing tensions.
Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has headed the administration since August 2024, addressed the nation in a televised speech. Describing Hadi’s death as an “irreplaceable loss to the nation’s political and democratic sphere,” Yunus called for calm, pledged a transparent investigation, and warned that unrest could jeopardize preparations for credible elections. The government declared Saturday a day of state mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers planned.
Additional security forces were deployed in affected areas as the nation, still recovering from last year’s upheaval, braces for further instability.