Bangladesh Unrest: Newspaper Offices Torched After Death of Protest Leader
Dhaka, December 19, 2025 – Violence erupted across Bangladesh following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old youth activist and spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho, who died from gunshot wounds in a Singapore hospital.
Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot in the head by masked assailants on December 12 while campaigning for a parliamentary seat in Dhaka. His death, announced on December 18, triggered protests that turned violent overnight.
Demonstrators targeted major media outlets, vandalizing and setting fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star newspapers in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar area. Staff at The Daily Star were trapped inside as thick smoke filled the building, forcing dozens to seek refuge on the rooftop. Journalists were rescued by army personnel and firefighters around dawn.
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Nurul Kabir, New Age editor and president of the Editors' Council, was physically assaulted by protesters when he arrived at The Daily Star office to check on trapped staff. The cultural center Chhayanaut was also vandalized.
Protests spread to Chattogram and Sylhet, where crowds blocked roads. Some rallies featured anti-India sentiment, with demands for extradition of suspects allegedly fled to India.
Inqilab Moncho initially demanded arrests but later urged restraint, warning against violence and infiltration by provocateurs. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus condemned the attacks on media as threats to press freedom, while journalist organizations called them assaults on democracy.
Hadi's body arrived in Dhaka on December 19, with funeral arrangements underway amid heightened security. An uneasy calm has returned to the capital, though protests continue at sites like Shahbagh. The UN and international observers have called for investigations into both Hadi's killing and the ensuing violence.
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