Bangladesh Protests: Demonstrators Burn Awami League Office After Sharif Osman Hadi Dies

Bangladesh is plunging back into chaos as violent protests sweep Dhaka following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key youth leader in the July Uprising against the former Awami League government. Hadi, 28, was shot in the ear by masked attackers outside a mosque last week and airlifted to Singapore for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on December 18 after six days on life support. Enraged demonstrators have torched Awami League offices and vandalized major newspaper headquarters, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, clashing fiercely with security forces amid cries for justice and fears of targeted killings by remnants of the ousted regime.

Interim government chief Muhammad Yunus confirmed Hadi's passing on December 19, expressing deep sorrow and declaring Saturday a national day of mourning with all institutions closed. As a prominent figure in the Inqalab Manch student movement that helped topple Sheikh Hasina's rule, Hadi's assassination has ignited widespread outrage, deepening divisions in the fragile post-uprising landscape. Authorities are investigating the attack, but protesters demand accountability, warning of escalating instability if political violence persists.