Unrest in Bangladesh After Killing of Pro-Democracy Leader Sharif Osman Hadi

Bangladesh has been gripped by protests following the death of 32-year-old youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in the country’s 2024 pro-democracy movement.

Hadi succumbed to gunshot injuries in a Singapore hospital on Thursday, days after an assassination attempt.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Dhaka late Thursday and Friday, demanding justice for Hadi.

Protesters blocked highways, set fire to political offices, and vandalised properties linked to the former ruling Awami League.

In Dhaka, crowds gathered at Shahbagh intersection, chanting slogans and waving national flags, while in Rajshahi an Awami League office was torched and in Chittagong, a former minister’s residence was attacked.

The interim government declared a day of mourning and deployed police and paramilitary forces amid fears of further unrest ahead of national elections. (Agencies)