Bangladesh descended into political turmoil Thursday night as enraged protesters stormed the offices of the country’s two leading newspapers following the death of prominent opposition activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore. The violent demonstrations included arson attacks that trapped journalists inside burning buildings.
Hadi, a spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho cultural group and vocal critic of both India and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, succumbed to injuries sustained in a targeted assassination attempt one week earlier. The activist was shot while riding a rickshaw in Dhaka by motorcycle-borne assailants who remain at large.
The assassination has triggered significant diplomatic tensions between Bangladesh and India. Bangladeshi authorities claim the shooter likely fled to India, prompting reciprocal diplomatic summonses between the neighboring nations. India subsequently summoned Bangladesh’s envoy to express condemnation, while Dhaka demanded clarifications from New Delhi.
Hadi had planned to run as an independent candidate in February’s national elections—the first since the 2024 uprising that ousted Hasina’s 15-year administration. The Inqilab Moncho group has actively promoted anti-Indian sentiment in the Muslim-majority nation since Hasina’s removal, with the former leader now residing in self-imposed exile in India.
Thursday’s protests began with hundreds gathering at Dhaka’s Shahbagh Square, chanting religious and political slogans. The demonstrations rapidly escalated as separate groups attacked the headquarters of Prothom Alo (Bangladesh’s leading Bengali-language daily) and The Daily Star (the premier English-language publication). Security forces deployed around the buildings but refrained from intervening as fires trapped staff inside, with one journalist reporting severe smoke inhalation via social media.
Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim leader who assumed power after Hasina’s August 2024 ouster, addressed the nation promising justice for Hadi’s killers. Yunus declared a national day of mourning for Saturday while urging calm. Critics however blame Yunus’s administration for rising Islamist influence in a country with a troubled history of political violence.
The interim government has banned all activities of Hasina’s Awami League party, including participation in February’s elections. Last month, a Bangladeshi court sentenced the former prime minister to death for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 uprising. Recent days have seen additional anti-India protests targeting diplomatic facilities, prompting India to suspend tourist visas for Bangladeshis citing security concerns.