Bangladesh witnessed widespread unrest late Thursday night and early Friday after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key youth leader of the country’s 2024 pro-democracy uprising. Thousands of protesters poured onto the streets of Dhaka and other cities, demanding justice for Hadi, whose death has triggered fresh political tensions in the country.
Hadi died at a hospital in Singapore, where he was undergoing treatment after being shot in an apparent assassination attempt last week.
Protests erupt across Dhaka and other cities
Protests began in the capital late Thursday and quickly spread to several parts of the country. Demonstrators blocked roads, set fire to buildings, and clashed with police as anger mounted over Hadi’s killing. Many protesters blamed political forces linked to the former ruling Awami League for the attack.
In Dhaka, crowds marched through major intersections, chanting slogans and demanding the arrest of those responsible. Several government-linked properties were targeted as the protests turned violent.
Media houses attacked, buildings set on fire
As tensions escalated, protesters attacked media organisations in the capital. Offices housing Bangladesh’s two largest newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were set ablaze late at night.
VIDEO | Dhaka, Bangladesh: Protesters vandalised the office of the country's largest newspaper, Daily Prothom Alo, amid widespread outrage over the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for the political platform Inquilab Mancha.
(Full video available on PTI Videos –… pic.twitter.com/6klEh8xj4U
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2025
Fire officials confirmed at least three incidents of arson. Journalists and staff members were reportedly trapped inside the buildings as firefighters rushed to control the flames. A witness told news agency PTI that several hundred protesters surrounded the Prothom Alo office around 11 pm before setting fire to the Daily Star premises nearby.
No official casualty figures were immediately available, but the attacks raised serious concerns about press safety.
Anti-India protests and diplomatic tensions
Protests also took an anti-India turn in some areas. In the southwestern city of Rajshahi, demonstrators attempted to march toward the office of a regional Indian diplomat. Police stopped the procession before it could reach the premises.
#JUSTIN Scenes near Indian Assistant High Commission office and residence in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Stone pelting and arson reported. Police trying to control the tense situation.#Bangladesh #IndianHighCommission pic.twitter.com/SMSnct7XXz
— Reality Index (@Reality_Index) December 18, 2025
Videos circulating on social media showed incidents of stone-pelting near the Indian Assistant High Commission office. Anti-India slogans were heard during several demonstrations, increasing diplomatic sensitivity amid the unrest.
Violence spreads beyond the capital
The violence soon spread beyond Dhaka. Protesters torched an Awami League office in Rajshahi and vandalised properties linked to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina fled to India after being ousted during last year’s mass uprising.
In another incident, demonstrators blocked a major highway connecting Dhaka with Mymensingh. In the southeastern city of Chittagong, the residence of a former minister was attacked, according to local media footage.
Who was Sharif Osman Hadi?
Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was a senior leader of the student-led platform Inqilab Mancha and a prominent voice of the 2024 protest movement. He was known for his strong criticism of both the previous government and entrenched political elites.
Hadi was shot by masked assailants on December 12 while leaving a mosque in central Dhaka. He was later flown to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on Thursday.
Government response and investigation
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus described Hadi’s death as an “irreparable loss for the nation.” He announced a day of national mourning and ordered special prayers across Bangladesh.
Police have launched a nationwide manhunt for the attackers, releasing photos of two suspects and announcing a reward of five million taka for information leading to their arrest. Authorities warned that continued violence could destabilise the country’s fragile political transition.
