Dhaka: Major violence erupted on the streets of Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh since late on Thursday, after the death of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
Known for his strong anti-India rhetoric, Hadi (32), gained prominence during Bangladesh’s 2024 student uprising that led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. He was the spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha platform and an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency in the general elections scheduled for February 12, 2026.
He was shot in the head by masked assailants on December 12 while launching his election campaign in Dhaka and died during treatment in a hospital in Singapore on Thursday.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka and other cities to demand the arrest of his killers as soon as the news of his death was circulated. Several buildings in Dhaka, including those housing the offices of the country’s two leading media houses – The Daily Star and Prothom Alo – were torched, with staff trapped inside. They were later rescued.
There was heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces across Dhaka to curb further violence.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Bangladesh, urging them to avoid local travel and minimise their movement outside their living premises.
In case of any urgency, they have been advised to reach out to the High Commission or Assistant High Commissions in the country
Acts of violence were also reported in several other cities across Bangladesh, including Chittagong, where protesters gathered outside the Indian Assistant High Commission and raised anti-India slogans. Protesters set fire to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence and an Awami League office in Rajshahi, causing extensive damage.
India is keeping a close watch on developments. Ties between the two neighbours have deteriorated over the last one year after Hasina fled to Delhi. Inflammatory statements against India have now become common in Bangladesh and on Wednesday, hundreds of demonstrators under the banner “July Oikya” (July Unity) marched toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, chanting anti-India slogans, while also demanding the return of Hasina.
India had summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Muhammad Riaz Hamidullah, earlier this week, to issue a formal diplomatic protest over recent threats to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and inflammatory anti-India statements from Bangladeshi political leaders. The summons was sent after a leader of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) threatened that Dhaka would shelter forces hostile to Delhi and help sever India’s “seven sisters”—a term used to describe the country’s northeastern states– from India.
“Seven Sisters will be separated from India,” Abdullah said at a protest rally organised by Inqilab Mancha against those involved in the attack on Hadi, doubling down on preposterous claims that the accused are being backed by India. Radical elements like Hasnat Abdullah have been given a free hand by the Yunus-led interim government, as reported by NDTV.
India maintained that it completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding the assassination attempt on Hadi.
Bangladesh’s interim chief, Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address after Hadi’s death, said: “His passing represents an irreplaceable loss to the nation’s political and democratic sphere.”
Urging citizens to remain calm, Yunus said the government was committed to ensuring a transparent investigation and bringing all those responsible to justice.
He also appealed for restraint, warning that violence would only undermine the country’s path toward a credible election. The interim administration has declared Saturday a day of state mourning in honour of Hadi, with national flags to be flown at half-mast and special prayers planned across the country.
