Violence protest erupts in Bangladesh after Osman Hadi's death

Violence Protest Erupts In Bangladesh:  Sharif Osman Hadi, who played a key role in the movement against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's rule and made sharp statements against India, died in Singapore on Thursday. Following the death of the Inquilab Manch convener, protests erupted in Dhaka late Thursday night, leading to violence. Protesters attacked, vandalized, and set fire to the offices of Pratham Alo (the country's largest Bengali newspaper) and the Daily Star. In addition, protesters set the Awami League office in Rajshahi on fire.

Meanwhile, interim government chief Mohammad Yunus has called a floor meeting in Dhaka to address the violence raging in the country.

Awami League office torched

It is reported that thousands of people gathered at Shahabad Square after news of Hadi's death spread in Singapore. An angry mob then blocked the intersection. The protesters waved placards, accusing authorities of failing to protect Hadi, and the demonstrations quickly escalated into violence. Protesters first attacked the office of Pratham Alo in Karwan Bazar, where they vandalized several floors, pulled out furniture and documents, and set them on fire. Also Read: Goa nightclub fire: Police get 2-day transit remand of Luthra brothers According to local media reports, several journalists and employees were trapped inside the building. The rioters then attacked the Daily Star office, vandalizing it and setting it on fire.

VIDEO | Dhaka, Bangladesh: Daily Star newspaper building was attacked in Dhaka following death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the July Uprising and a spokesperson of the Inqilab Manch who was shot last week. Protests erupted in Dhaka as soon as the news of his death… pic.twitter.com/wJSfbc0E01

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2025

Slogans against India

Following this, protesters gathered outside the Indian High Commission office in Chittagong late Thursday night and pelted the office with stones. They chanted anti-India and anti-Awami League slogans, such as "Destroy the Indian invasion!" And catch and kill the League members!

Hadi was shot by unknown assailants

Death of Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore On December 12, Hadi was shot in the head by unknown assailants while campaigning in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. He was initially admitted to Dhaka for treatment in critical condition, but was transferred to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15. He died while undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital.

National mourning declared

Yunus declared a national mourning on Friday, announced special prayers in mosques, and promised that Hadi's killers would not be spared. He also vowed the government would take responsibility for Hadi's wife and only child.

Chief Advisor to the Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus tweets, "... Sharif Osman Hadi, the fearless frontline warrior of the July Mass Uprising under treatment in Singapore and spokesperson for the Inkilab Mancha, is no longer with us... His passing represents an… pic.twitter.com/pEJdp5SXC2

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2025

Hadi came to prominence after playing a key role in the July 2024 uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government. He led the campaign demanding a constitutional ban on the Awami League and was considered a staunch opponent of pro-India politics.

Who was Osman Hadi?

Sharif Osman Hadi was a prominent political activist and student leader in Bangladesh. He was one of the founding members and convener of the Inquilab Mancha. He played a key role in the 2024 July-August uprising (also known as the July Revolution), which toppled the Awami League government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hadi was known for his anti-India rhetoric. He believed India was imposing "hegemony" in Bangladesh. Recently, he shared a map of Greater Bangladesh on social media, which included some northeastern parts of India, causing a major controversy.

Also Read: Goa Fire Tragedy: Action Against Luthra Brothers Who Fled the Country, Passports Suspended He was campaigning as an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming elections when he was shot by an unknown assailant, and died in Singapore while undergoing treatment.

Summary

Protester  are chanting  slogans against the Awami League and India. Following Hadi's death, Bangladesh's interim government declared mourning and appealed to the public for peace.