A nation in mourning turns to mayhem as the assassination of ‘July Uprising’ hero Sharif Osman Hadi triggers nationwide arson and anti-India fury.
December 19, 2025: Bangladesh has descended into widespread unrest following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha and a pivotal figure in the 2024 uprising. Hadi succumbed to his injuries in a Singapore hospital late Thursday, six days after being shot in the head during an election campaign in Dhaka.
As news of his death spread, grief rapidly transformed into a violent outcry against the “defeated forces” of the Awami League and neighboring India.
Media Under Fire: Prothom Alo and Daily Star Torched
In the early hours of Friday, December 19, mobs targeted the offices of the country’s two most prominent newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area.
- Arson & Vandalism: Protesters smashed windows and set the buildings ablaze while staff were still inside. Footage showed journalists fleeing to rooftops to escape the thick smoke.
- The Accusation: The mobs accused the publications of being “pro-India” and sympathetic to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
- Operations Halted: Both newspapers have officially suspended their print and online operations, marking a dark day for press freedom in the region.
Diplomatic Tensions: Attack on Indian Missions
The violence quickly took a diplomatic turn as anti-India sentiment—a cornerstone of Hadi’s political platform—erupted across major cities.
- Chittagong Attack: Protesters gathered outside the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong, hurling stones and shouting slogans demanding justice for Hadi. Heavy army and police presence was later deployed to secure the premises.
- Travel Advisory: New Delhi has issued a high-level advisory urging Indian students and citizens in Bangladesh to “minimize movement” and stay indoors as tensions escalate.
A Nation in “State Mourning”
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation in a televised speech, calling Hadi a “fearless frontline fighter” and an “irreplaceable loss” to the democratic movement.
- Saturday Mourning: The interim government has declared Saturday, December 20, a day of national mourning.
- Election Shadow: The unrest comes just weeks before the February 12, 2026 national elections, casting serious doubt on whether a peaceful transition can occur.
“No leniency will be shown to the killers. I call upon all citizens to keep your patience and restraint,” Yunus stated, though his appeal for calm has yet to quell the streets.