Fresh unrest has broken out across Bangladesh following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government.
Hadi, who was shot by masked attackers in Dhaka earlier this month, died in hospital in Singapore on Thursday, triggering overnight protests and widespread vandalism.
Demonstrators demanding the arrest of those responsible targeted media organisations, with offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star attacked, forcing the temporary suspension of print and online operations.
Hadi was shot outside a mosque in the capital shortly after election authorities announced dates for the country’s first post-uprising polls.
A spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha movement, Hadi had planned to contest the February 12 general election.
His death comes amid heightened political tension, regional security concerns raised by India, and ongoing disputes surrounding the former prime minister, who has been sentenced to death in absentia and barred from political participation.
The country is currently governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus.
#Bangladesh’s worsening law and order situation took a grave turn late Thursday night as angry mobs targeted leading media houses in Dhaka, vandalising the offices of #ProthomAlo and setting fire to The Daily Star building in Karwan Bazar amid heightened unrest following the… pic.twitter.com/mYAnZ5vOAO
— DD India (@DDIndialive) December 19, 2025
Got a whiff of MI6 about it. Ah, those “British” s*it stirrers.