Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across Bangladesh after violent protests erupted overnight over the killing of a prominent youth leader, raising concerns of further unrest ahead of national elections.
Streets in the capital, Dhaka, were calm on Friday morning, but residents said tensions remained high, with fears of renewed violence later in the day following Friday prayers.
Security was stepped up in several cities as authorities sought to prevent further clashes.
The unrest follows the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha, or Platform for Revolution, who was shot by masked assailants in Dhaka last week while launching his campaign for February’s elections.
He died in Singapore after spending six days on life support. Hadi had been a visible figure in the student-led protests that toppled the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.
His killing has sparked outrage among supporters, with demonstrators demanding swift justice and vowing to continue protests.
Violence flared in Dhaka on Thursday night, with crowds vandalising the offices of major newspapers including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
Fires were set at the Daily Star building, forcing firefighters to rescue journalists trapped inside. Police and troops were deployed to restore order.
New Age editor Nurul Kabir was harassed outside the newspaper offices, with videos showing him being pushed and verbally abused by protesters accusing him of political bias.
Other targets included the offices of the cultural organisation Chhayanaut and the historic home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s first president. Both buildings were vandalised and set on fire.
Unrest was also reported outside Dhaka. In the north-western city of Rajshahi, protesters demolished an Awami League party office using a bulldozer.
Major roads were blocked in several districts, and violence was reported in the port city of Chittagong.
Bangladesh has been run by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, after Sheikh Hasina fled to India following mass protests.
The Awami League has since been barred from contesting the elections, scheduled for 12 February.
In a televised address, Yunus described Hadi’s death as “an irreplaceable loss” and urged the public to remain calm.
He said a transparent investigation was under way and warned that continued violence could undermine the credibility of the vote.
The government has declared Saturday a day of national mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast and special prayers planned nationwide.
The unrest follows a series of anti-India protests earlier in the week, reflecting strained relations between Bangladesh and India since Hasina’s departure.
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