Violence escalated sharply in Bangladesh’s capital late Thursday night after the death of prominent student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, with angry mobs attacking major media houses and journalists in a wave of coordinated unrest.
Protesters stormed the headquarters of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, setting parts of the buildings on fire and vandalising property, as tensions spilled onto the streets following confirmation of Hadi’s death.
Journalists Targeted, Offices Set Ablaze
The attacks began around midnight, with mobs gathering outside the Prothom Alo office before launching an arson assault. Shortly afterwards, a similar attack unfolded at the offices of The Daily Star. Videos circulating on social media showed protesters smashing windows with sticks and fires burning on roads outside the newspaper buildings.
Veteran journalist Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, was also attacked during the violence, underscoring the growing threats faced by members of Bangladesh’s media community.
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Some employees were reportedly trapped inside the newspaper offices as the fires spread. Several hours later, journalists and staff were safely evacuated, and emergency teams managed to bring the situation under control.
Death of Sharif Osman Hadi Triggers Unrest
The violence was triggered by the confirmed death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the activist group Inquilab Mancha and a key figure in the July Uprising that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024.
Hadi had been airlifted to Singapore for emergency medical treatment after being shot in the head by unidentified assailants in Dhaka on December 12. He succumbed to his injuries on Thursday evening, setting off protests across parts of the country.
Media Accused, Anti-India Slogans Raised
According to the Associated Press, editors of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star are widely perceived as being close to Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus. In recent weeks, Islamist groups had staged protests outside the offices of these newspapers, accusing them of having links with India.
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Following Hadi’s death, demonstrators accused media outlets of biased coverage and alleged a wider conspiracy involving foreign elements. In several locations, protesters raised anti-India slogans and attempted to march towards Indian diplomatic missions.
In Rajshahi district, which borders India, dozens of demonstrators tried to move towards the office of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner but were stopped by security forces.
Dhaka Summons Indian Envoy
Bangladeshi authorities said they had identified suspects in the shooting and claimed the attacker had likely fled to India. Dhaka subsequently summoned the Indian envoy and sought an explanation, as diplomatic tensions rose alongside the unrest.
Sharif Osman Hadi was known as a vocal critic of both India and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a stance that had placed him at the centre of political controversy in recent months.
