Image Source aljazeera
DHAKA, December 20, 2025 — An atmosphere of heavy grief and volatile anger has descended upon the Bangladeshi capital today as the nation observes a formal day of state mourning for Sharif Osman Hadi. The 32-year-old spokesperson for the radical political platform Inqilab Mancha and a pivotal figure in the 2024 student uprising succumbed to gunshot wounds on Thursday in a Singapore hospital, sparking a fresh wave of nationwide unrest.
A Capital Under Siege Dhaka has been transformed into a high-security zone
Thousands of police and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed across the city, particularly around the South Plaza of the Parliament, where Hadi’s funeral prayer (Janaza) is scheduled for this afternoon.
The security clampdown follows a night of extraordinary violence. Mobs, fueled by the news of Hadi’s death, targeted media houses including the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as cultural institutions and properties linked to the former ruling Awami League.
Diplomatic Strain and Anti-India Rhetoric
A significant and worrying feature of the current unrest is the sharp spike in anti-India sentiment. Radical groups have alleged, without verified evidence from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, that the assailants involved in Hadi’s December 12 shooting may have fled to India.
- Diplomatic Incidents: Protesters have targeted Indian diplomatic premises, including the Assistant High Commissioner’s residence in Chattogram.
- Political Rhetoric: Demonstrators have been seen chanting slogans like “Dilli na Dhaka? Dhaka Dhaka,” questioning foreign influence and demanding the closure of the Indian High Commission.
- Minority Concerns: The unrest has tragically spilled over into communal violence, with reports of a Hindu youth being lynched by a mob in Mymensingh on Thursday night. The Role of the Interim Government
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who has described Hadi as a “fearless frontline fighter against hegemony,” is expected to attend the funeral today. His administration is under immense pressure from both domestic citizen organizations—calling for the resignation of the Home Adviser—and international observers concerned about the deterioration of law and order.
The government has vowed to bring Hadi’s killers to justice, but the proximity of the February 12 general elections has turned his death into a political lightning rod. While the Inqilab Mancha has officially called for peace during today’s procession, the presence of emotionally charged supporters at the heart of the city has authorities fearing further escalation.
Timeline of Events:
| Dec 12 | Sharif Osman Hadi is shot in the head by masked gunmen in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area.
| Dec 15 | Hadi is airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment in critical condition.
| Dec 18 | Hadi passes away; Muhammad Yunus announces a national day of mourning.
| Dec 19 | Hadi’s body arrives in Dhaka; widespread rioting and attacks on media offices occur.
| Dec 20 | State Mourning: Funeral prayers at Parliament; burial near national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. |
