By SUNTV Global Channel
December 19, 2025 | News
Bangladesh has been thrown into renewed political chaos following the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, whose killing has sparked violent protests across several cities, deepening fears over the country’s fragile post-crisis transition.
Hadi, 32, a key figure linked to last year’s student-led uprising that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office, was shot in Dhaka last week. He was later flown to Singapore for advanced medical treatment but died from his injuries on Thursday. His death ignited outrage among supporters who accuse authorities of failing to protect leaders associated with the protest movement.
According to live reports monitored by SUNTV Global Channel, demonstrations quickly spiralled into violence on Friday.
In Dhaka, angry protesters torched the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding president and father of Sheikh Hasina. The symbolic home had already been attacked twice during last year’s unrest, reflecting the deep political divisions still gripping the country.
Outside the capital, violence spread to Rajshahi, where protesters reportedly used bulldozers to demolish an office belonging to the Awami League, the party formerly led by Hasina.
Major highways were blocked in several districts, paralysing transportation and commercial activities, while clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces attempting to restore order.
The unrest also reached the port city of Chittagong, where protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission, highlighting rising anti-India sentiment since Hasina fled to New Delhi after her removal from power. Critics have accused India of backing her former administration.
Media organisations were not spared. In Dhaka, protesters attacked offices of major newspapers accused of being pro-India, including Prothom Alo and the English-language Daily Star.
In a shocking overnight incident, the Daily Star’s newsroom was set ablaze, trapping dozens of journalists and staff inside as thick smoke filled the building. Firefighters brought the fire under control around 1:40 a.m. local time and rescued 27 employees. No deaths were recorded, but the newspaper was forced to suspend publication for the first time since its establishment.
Journalist Zyma Islam, trapped during the fire, shared a chilling Facebook post as the incident unfolded:
“I can’t breathe anymore. There’s too much smoke. I am inside. You are killing me.”
Reacting to the attack, the paper’s consulting editor, Kamal Ahmed, described the incident as a grave blow to press freedom.
“This is a dark day for independent journalism in Bangladesh. Our newsroom was attacked and our staff’s lives were put at risk,” he said.
Human rights organisations and media watchdogs have strongly condemned the violence, warning that attacks on journalists, diplomatic missions and historic sites signal a dangerous slide toward lawlessness.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities have not announced any arrests connected to Hadi’s killing or the subsequent wave of violence, though officials say security has been reinforced in major cities.
With tensions still high, observers warn that unless political leaders act swiftly to restore calm and ensure accountability, Bangladesh’s already delicate transition could face further destabilisation.
— SUNTV Global Channel
