DHAKA: The body of slain Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi arrived in Dhaka on Friday, triggering renewed protests across the capital and other major cities, as the country’s interim government appealed for calm and urged citizens to resist violence during a fragile political transition.
According to a statement shared by the interim administration on X, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Hadi’s remains landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:48pm local time after departing from Singapore, where he had been receiving medical treatment. Hadi, 32, died after spending six days on life support following a gunshot wound to the head sustained during an election campaign event in Dhaka last week.
Hadi was a prominent youth leader and spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha, or Platform for Revolution, and played an active role in the student-led protests that forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country last year. He was also known as a vocal critic of India, a stance that has resonated strongly with many protesters amid deteriorating ties between Dhaka and New Delhi.
The United States Embassy in Dhaka issued a security advisory warning of heavy traffic and potential unrest ahead of Hadi’s funeral prayers, scheduled to be held after Zohar prayers near the National Parliament building on Manik Mia Avenue. The embassy advised citizens to avoid demonstrations, noting that even peaceful gatherings could escalate into violence.
While much of Bangladesh remained relatively calm earlier on Friday, protests continued at key locations, including Shahbagh in central Dhaka, where demonstrators carrying national flags and placards vowed not to disperse until justice was delivered. Residents expressed fears that fresh violence could erupt later in the day.
Tensions escalated further on Thursday night when mobs vandalised the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka. Firefighters managed to bring a blaze at The Daily Star under control, while troops were deployed to secure the area and rescue journalists trapped inside. Additional police and paramilitary forces were later stationed in sensitive areas to prevent further unrest.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who heads the interim government, strongly condemned the attacks and appealed for restraint. In a statement from his office, Yunus described the moment as critical for Bangladesh’s democratic future, warning that mob violence could derail the country’s transition ahead of elections scheduled for February 12.
He expressed solidarity with journalists affected by the attacks, saying assaults on media outlets were attacks on truth itself, and pledged full justice. Yunus also condemned the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy, stressing that there was no place for such violence in what he described as a “new Bangladesh”.
The interim government blamed the unrest on fringe elements and urged citizens to reject chaos. Yunus earlier declared Saturday a day of state mourning in honour of Hadi.
Violence was also reported in other cities, including Chittagong, where protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission. The unrest comes amid rising anti-India sentiment and renewed demonstrations demanding the return of Sheikh Hasina, further complicating Bangladesh’s already volatile political landscape.
