Dhaka was engulfed in chaos and violence early Friday following the death of a prominent youth leader and pro-democracy activist. Sharif Osman Hadi, a central figure in the 2024 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, succumbed to injuries sustained in a targeted assassination attempt earlier this month.
The 32-year-old, who was a candidate in the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections, was shot by unidentified assailants outside a Dhaka mosque on December 12. He was later transferred to a hospital in Singapore for treatment, where he passed away on Thursday.
News of his death triggered immediate and widespread unrest. In the capital, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, demanding justice and the arrest of those responsible for the killing. The protests quickly turned destructive, with several buildings reportedly set ablaze. Among the targets were the offices of the country’s two largest newspapers, the Daily Star and Prothom Alo. Staff members were trapped inside the burning structures during the attacks, with one journalist posting a desperate plea for help on social media as smoke filled the building.
The violence was not confined to Dhaka. Reports emerged of demonstrations and attacks in other major cities, including Chattogram. Protesters also surrounded the residence of India’s deputy ambassador in Dhaka, leading to clashes with police who used tear gas to disperse the crowd. A key highway was blocked, and a cultural center in the capital was attacked.
Authorities have launched a major investigation into Hadi’s murder, releasing photographs of two suspects and offering a substantial reward for information. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, confirmed Hadi’s death and declared a half-day of mourning. In a televised address, Yunus called the loss “irreparable” and vowed that the nation’s democratic progress would not be derailed by violence.
The political landscape remains tense as the nation prepares for pivotal parliamentary elections in February. The death of Hadi, a senior leader of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha and a vocal critic of India—where the deposed Sheikh Hasina now resides—has further inflamed existing political and social divisions. The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is widely expected to perform strongly in the upcoming vote.