Bangladesh protests escalate: Yunus calls meet, media attacked, anti-India slogans echo | Top updates

Bangladesh protests turn violent after Sharif Osman Hadi’s death

Bangladesh witnessed widespread unrest on Thursday night after the death of radical political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who succumbed to gunshot injuries while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Dhaka and other cities, accusing authorities of failing to protect Hadi and demanding swift justice.

The demonstrations quickly escalated into violence, with attacks on major media houses, political offices, and Indian diplomatic premises. Interim chief Muhammad Yunus has appealed for calm while calling a high-level meeting to review the deteriorating law and order situation. This comes as elections are scheduled for February 12, 2026.

Also read: Widespread protests erupt in Bangladesh following Osman Hadi’s death, Awami League office vandalised

• Mass protests erupt in Dhaka and beyond: Thousands gathered at Shahbag in central Dhaka, chanting slogans and waving placards, many of them openly anti-India and anti–Sheikh Hasina. Protests spread to other cities, including Rajshahi and Chattogram, as tensions escalated nationwide.
• Yunus convenes high-level security meeting: Bangladesh interim chief Muhammad Yunus has called a high-level meeting in Dhaka this afternoon to review the law and order situation following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi and the violence that has spread across the country.
• Media houses attacked, journalists rescued: Offices of Daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were vandalised and set on fire by mobs around midnight. At least 25 journalists from The Daily Star were rescued after being trapped inside for over four hours, while both newspapers suspended print and digital operations due to security concerns.
• Muhammad Yunus calls for restraint: Interim chief Muhammad Yunus confirmed Hadi’s death and urged the public to remain calm. Calling Hadi a “martyr,” he announced a one-day national mourning and vowed that “All perpetrators involved in this brutal assassination will be swiftly brought to justice."
• Journalists allege police inaction: Staff from both newspapers accused police of failing to intervene during the attacks, claiming officers were present but did not act. Law enforcement officials, however, said they were preparing to bring the situation under control.
• Indian diplomatic premises targeted: Protesters staged an overnight sit-in outside the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram, with stone-pelting reported near the Khulshi office. Slogans against India and the Awami League were raised before the police dispersed the crowd.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic home vandalised: The former residence of Bangladesh’s founding president in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32 area was attacked, set on fire, and partially demolished using excavators, according to police and local media reports.
• Manhunt launched for attackers: Bangladeshi police released photographs of two key suspects linked to the shooting and announced a reward of five million taka for information leading to their arrest.
• Protests turn overtly political: Demonstrators accused India of sheltering ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and demanded her return. India, citing security concerns, shut two visa application centres in Bangladesh and lodged a formal protest with Dhaka.
• Funeral arrangements announced: Inqilab Moncho said Hadi’s body would arrive in Dhaka on Friday evening from Singapore. Funeral prayers are scheduled in Singapore and will later be held at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Saturday.
• India reopened its visa application centre in Dhaka after a temporary closure due to security concerns, while centres in Khulna and Rajshahi remain closed. The shutdown followed anti-India protests near the Indian High Commission, and affected applicants will be rescheduled for later appointments, officials said.

Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of Bangladesh’s 2024 student uprising, died on Thursday after succumbing to injuries sustained in an assassination attempt earlier this month. The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Hadi passed away while undergoing treatment in the city-state.

Hadi had been airlifted from Bangladesh to Singapore General Hospital’s Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit on December 15 for emergency medical care, days after he was shot in the head in Dhaka. The attack took place on December 12 while he was travelling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw on Culvert Road in the Paltan area of the capital.

Must read: Who was Sharif Osman Hadi? Anti-India youth leader who died in Singapore week after being shot

Following the shooting, Hadi was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being shifted to Evercare Hospital as his condition deteriorated. He was later transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment but failed to recover from his injuries.

A member of the anti-Hasina political platform Inqilab Manch, Hadi was also preparing to contest the upcoming February elections as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency at the time of the attack.