Bangladesh Erupts in Violence After Death of Anti-India Leader in Singapore

Bangladesh descended into widespread violence on December 18-19, 2025, following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old radical leader and key figure in the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Known for his fierce anti-India rhetoric and as spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha platform, Hadi was contesting as an independent candidate in the upcoming February 12, 2026 elections when he was assassinated.

Hadi was shot in the head by masked assailants on December 12, 2025, while campaigning in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area or near a mosque, according to varying reports. Airlifted to Singapore General Hospital on December 15 for advanced treatment, he succumbed to irreversible brain damage and organ failure on December 18, despite intensive medical efforts, as confirmed by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Protests rapidly intensified across Dhaka, Chittagong (Chattogram), Rajshahi, and other cities, with thousands gathering at Shahbagh intersection chanting slogans like "Who are you, who am I – Hadi, Hadi" and demanding immediate arrests of the killers. Violence escalated as mobs vandalised and set fire to offices of major newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Karwan Bazar, trapping staff inside before rescues by firefighters and security forces.

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In Chittagong, demonstrators assembled outside the Indian Assistant High Commission, throwing stones and raising anti-India slogans, while in Rajshahi, protesters torched an Awami League office and the historic residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The unrest reflected ongoing tensions since Hasina's exile in India, with bilateral relations strained amid accusations of harbouring the former leader.

Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address, described Hadi's death as an irreparable loss to democracy, pledged a transparent investigation and justice without leniency, and urged calm to safeguard the path to credible February elections. Declaring Saturday, December 20, a day of state mourning with flags at half-mast, special prayers nationwide, and government support for Hadi's family, Yunus warned that violence could derail the electoral process. Authorities initiated a manhunt with rewards offered, while the Indian High Commission advised nationals to restrict movement amid heightened security concerns.

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