Bangladesh was gripped by tension on Friday as violent protests erupted across the country following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi late Thursday, raising concerns of further unrest ahead of the upcoming national elections.
Hadi, a prominent leader of the July Uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government, was shot in the head by masked assailants last Friday (December 12) while launching his election campaign in Dhaka.
He was first taken to a local hospital and later flown to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died after spending six days on life support.
While no incidents of violence were reported during the day, Thursday night witnessed attacks and vandalism in various parts of the country after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus confirmed the death of Inquilab Mancha leader Hadi.
Protesters took to the streets, attacking newspaper offices and vandalising 32 Dhanmondi, the residence of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Demonstrators also pelted bricks and stones at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram around 1:30 am, though no damage was reported.
Meanwhile, criticism has mounted against the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government over its handling of law and order, with opposition groups and civil society voices accusing it of failing to ensure adequate security for political leaders during the sensitive pre-election period.
The killing of Sharif Osman Hadi has intensified questions over intelligence lapses, delayed responses by security agencies and the lack of accountability, as demands grow for a transparent investigation and concrete measures to prevent further violence ahead of the polls.
In Dhaka, videos circulating on social media showed mobs vandalising the offices of the country’s leading dailies, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
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Yunus assured a transparent investigation into Hadi’s death and urged citizens to remain calm.
The interim government has been grappling with protests over delayed reforms, alongside warnings of unrest from the ousted Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League, which has been barred from contesting the elections. The country’s polls are scheduled for February 12.
