Violent protests rock Bangladesh after death of student leader

Violence broke out in Dhaka and several other cities in Bangladesh on Thursday night after the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who died in a Singapore hospital after being shot in the head.

Demonstrators took to the streets demanding the arrest of those responsible for Hadi’s killing.

The 32-year-old activist died at a hospital in Singapore, where he had been undergoing treatment after being shot in the head on December 12 by a masked attacker riding a motorcycle while campainging for elections.

Hadi was a key figure in the 2024 mass uprising that led to the fall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who later left the country for India. Following his death, angry crowds attacked the offices of two major newspapers — the Bengali daily Prothom Alo and the English-language Daily Star — accusing them of supporting Indian interests.

Both buildings were set on fire, leaving journalists and staff trapped inside. Firefighters used ladders to rescue several people, while army units were deployed to secure the area. A Daily Star reporter posted online from inside the building, saying she was struggling to breathe due to heavy smoke.

Protests also reached the residence of India’s deputy ambassador in Dhaka, where police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators. In Rajshahi, protesters demolished a local office of the Awami League using a bulldozer. Similar unrest was reported in Chattogram and Khulna.

Interim government chief Muhammad Yunus announced special prayers on Friday and a national day of mourning on Saturday, urging calm and restraint. Hadi, a senior leader of the student group Inqilab Mancha, had been preparing to contest parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026.

Protests continued on Friday as protesters were seen blocking roads in Dhaka's Shahbagh.