Bangladesh Tightens Security After Killing of Youth Leader Sparks Unrest

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A woman walks at the vandalised basement of the Daily Star building, following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 19 December 2025.

Bangladesh heightened security measures on Saturday, deploying police and paramilitary forces across the capital, Dhaka, ahead of funeral prayers for a slain youth leader and election candidate whose killing has triggered a surge in violence and unrest.

Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, a prominent figure in last year’s student-led uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka last week while launching his election campaign. He died on Thursday night in Singapore after spending six days on life support.

His killing has been followed by coordinated mob attacks on major newspapers and cultural institutions, raising fears of further instability ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 February.

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, declared Saturday a day of state mourning and urged citizens to reject what it described as “mob violence by fringe elements,” warning that continued unrest could jeopardize the country’s fragile democratic transition.

Bangladesh has struggled with political turbulence since Hasina was ousted in August 2024, despite initial optimism that the transition would restore stability to the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million people. Analysts say recurring protests and political infighting, including pressure from Islamist hardliners, have exposed the limitations of the interim administration.

Human Rights Watch condemned Hadi’s killing as a “terrible act” and called on authorities to act swiftly to stop the violence, including attacks on media outlets and journalists. Amnesty International urged prompt, independent investigations into both the assassination and the subsequent unrest.

Bangladesh ranks 149th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, with rights groups warning that continued assaults on journalists and activists risk further shrinking civic space ahead of the elections.

Protests continued on Friday in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, where demonstrators demanded justice for Hadi and accountability for the attacks. A mob also stormed the Dhaka office of Udichi Shilpigosthi, the country’s leading progressive cultural organisation.

The unrest has spread beyond the capital. In the port city of Chittagong, protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission, reflecting rising anti-India sentiment following Hasina’s flight to New Delhi after her removal from office.

Meanwhile, the Awami League—Hasina’s party, which has been barred from participating in the upcoming election—has warned of further unrest, fuelling concerns that continued instability could derail the vote.

Source: Reuters



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