Tension gripped Bangladesh on Friday following the death of prominent July Uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi, sparking widespread protests, violence, and vandalism across various regions. Although the morning remained peaceful, protesters later vandalized the existing remnants of 32 Dhanmandi, the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s founding father.
Violence erupted overnight Thursday, coinciding with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s televised confirmation of Hadi’s death. This sparked incidents of vandalism, including stone-hurling at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram. The Inquilab Mancha, a political group led by Hadi, was the first to announce his passing; the body was set to return home later that day.
Hadi, a candidate for the upcoming February 12 general elections, had been in a Singapore hospital battling for his life after being shot in the head by masked gunmen while campaigning in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area last week. Later on Thursday, demonstrators took to the streets, attacking offices of major newspapers and vandalizing 32 Dhanmandi with hammers. They also demolished an office of the Awami League party of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Rajshahi city.
Historically significant, 32 Dhanmandi was a focal point during Bangladesh’s struggle for autonomy, having been largely destroyed by excavators on February 5 of this year and set on fire soon after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Protesters targeted the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner early Friday, but no damage was reported.
Police responded to the unrest with tear gas and baton charges, managing to disperse crowds and detain 12 protesters in the process, with several injuries reported. Senior officials assured the Assistant High Commissioner of increased security following these incidents.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), an offshoot of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) that previously spearheaded the July Uprising, participated in a mourning procession at Dhaka University. Supporters voiced anti-India sentiments, claiming that the assailants responsible for Hadi’s murder had fled to India and demanded the interim government close the Indian High Commission until they were returned. “Until India returns the assassins of Hadi Bhai, the Indian High Commission to Bangladesh will remain closed. Now or Never. We are in a war!” stated Sarjis Alm, a prominent NCP leader.
Hasina, who left Bangladesh following her ouster last August, is currently in India. Concurrently, in Dhaka, protesters targeted the office of the cultural organization Chhayanaut, setting furniture ablaze. Reports of sporadic violence surfaced from other regions of the country throughout the night.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/international/protests-vandalism-erupt-across-bangladesh-after-hadis-death-1601859
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Publish Date: 2025-12-20 09:35:00
