Bangladesh unrest has flared across the country following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader who succumbed to injuries sustained in an assassination attempt, officials confirmed Friday.
Hadi, 32, was shot by masked attackers in Dhaka on December 12 as he was exiting a mosque; he was critically wounded and later airlifted to Singapore’s General Hospital for advanced treatment. Despite intensive medical care, he died there on December 18, according to Singapore’s Foreign Ministry.
The death of the Inqilab Moncho spokesperson and influential figure in the 2024 uprising triggered major protests in Dhaka, Rajshahi and other cities, with students, political activists and members of the public taking to the streets late Thursday night to demand justice and accountability.
Angry demonstrators also attacked and set fire to the offices of leading Bangladeshi newspapers in the capital, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, amid chants of “Justice for Hadi.” Authorities reported several incidents of arson and clashes between protesters and security forces.
Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, leading the transitional government after last year’s political upheaval, appealed for calm, declared a period of national mourning and vowed a full investigation into the shooting. He described Hadi’s death as “an irreparable loss for the nation” and promised no leniency for those responsible.
Hadi had been preparing to run as a candidate in the February 2026 parliamentary elections, the first polls since the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Analysts say his assassination, and now his death, underscores deepening political tensions and societal frustrations in Bangladesh.
In related developments, Bangladesh’s response to the shooting and efforts to support injured activists were previously highlighted in a report detailing the government’s decision to airlift Hadi for medical care, a critical step that tragically could not save him.
As nationwide Bangladesh unrest continues, citizens and student groups are calling for justice and stronger protections against political violence leading up to the key elections.
