Thu Dec 18 21:20:18 UTC 2025: News Article:

Student Leader’s Death Sparks Protests, Arson in Dhaka

Dhaka, Bangladesh – December 19, 2025: Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader and candidate in the upcoming February elections, died in a Singapore hospital on Thursday (December 18, 2025), six days after being shot in Dhaka. His death has triggered widespread protests and violence in the capital.

Hadi, a leader of the July Uprising and spokesperson for the Inqilab Manch, was attacked by masked gunmen while campaigning in the Bijoynagar area. The interim government of Muhammad Yunus sent him to Singapore for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Following the announcement of Hadi’s death, protesters gathered at Shahbagh intersection near Dhaka University, chanting slogans and demanding justice. A student group, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, organized a protest march and burned an effigy of the home advisor, blaming him for failing to apprehend Hadi’s killers.

The unrest escalated as a group of protesters attacked and vandalized the office of Bangla newspaper Prothom Alo, trapping journalists inside and setting a fire in front of the building. In a seperate incident, The Daily Star newspaper office building was also set on fire. The motive for the attack on Prothom Alo, known for its support of the interim government, remains unclear.

Chief Adviser Yunus addressed the nation, condemning Hadi’s murder and promising swift action against the perpetrators. He referred to Hadi as an “enemy to the defeated forces and fascist terrorists,” alluding to the disbanded Awami League. Yunus declared a one-day state mourning on Saturday and pledged government support for Hadi’s family.

He appealed for calm and urged citizens to refrain from rash decisions, emphasizing the importance of unity and allowing law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami have also expressed their condolences. The home advisor had previously announced a reward for information leading to the arrest of Hadi’s assailants, and police have reportedly arrested the parents, wife, and a female friend of the prime suspect.

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