Bangladesh Plunges into Chaos After Youth Leader Osman Hadi's Assassination

Bangladesh is on the brink of chaos as violent protests erupt across the country following the assassination of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The 32-year-old, who was a candidate in the upcoming general elections, was shot in the head last week while campaigning in Dhaka. He died on Thursday in Singapore, where he had been airlifted for treatment. Hadi was a key figure in Bangladesh's 2024 uprising that led to the ousting of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. He was a vocal critic of India, where Hasina remains in self-imposed exile. The protests, which began soon after Hadi's death, have seen offices of prominent newspapers, including Prothom Alo and Daily Star, set ablaze by angry mobs. Several areas remain tense, with additional police and paramilitary forces deployed to prevent further violence. The interim administration has declared Saturday a day of state mourning in honour of Hadi, with national flags to be flown at half-mast and special prayers planned across the country. However, the situation remains volatile, with reports of violence and vandalism emerging from several cities, including Chittagong, where protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission and set fire to a house belonging to a former Awami League education minister. Bangladesh's chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to bring those involved in Hadi's murder to justice quickly, saying, "No leniency will be shown" to the killers. However, the situation remains precarious, with the country on edge ahead of its February 2026 national elections.