Who was Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death has triggered unrest in Bangladesh? Anti-India slogans raised, Muhammad Yunus says, ‘No leniency..’

The chief adviser declared a one-day state mourning on Saturday, saying the national flag will be hoisted at half-mast in all government, semi-government, autonomous offices, educational institutions, government and private buildings, and Bangladesh missions abroad.

Sharif Usman Hadi, a prominent young leader of Bangladesh’s pro-democracy movement in 2024, has died, sparking widespread unrest throughout the country. Thousands have taken to the streets in Dhaka and other cities across Bangladesh since Thursday night and into Friday morning, staging violent protests and calling for justice for Hadi.

Who was Sharif Osman Hadi and why was he a key face of Bangladesh’s student movement?

Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the July Uprising who was shot last week, died while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital after fighting for his life for six days. Hadi, also a candidate in the scheduled February 12 general elections, died late Thursday. He was shot in the head by masked gunmen last week as he initiated his election campaign at central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area.

The interim government of Muhammad Yunus on Monday sent Hadi to Singapore in an air ambulance for advanced treatment as doctors in Dhaka described his condition “extremely critical”. In a televised address to the nation late Thursday night, Chief Adviser Yunus announced Hadi’s death and promised swift action to catch his killers.

Why did Hadi’s death trigger fresh unrest across Bangladesh?

The demonstrations began turning violent over time. Protesters in Rajshahi, located in the southwest region of the country, were restrained by police as they attempted to march to the Indian diplomatic office. In addition, several social media accounts are circulating footage of people throwing stones near the Indian Assistant High Commission. In Dhaka as well, hundreds of demonstrators attempted to gather outside the residence of India’s Deputy High Commissioner, forcing the police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.

“Today, I came before you with very heartbreaking news. Sharif Osman Hadi, the fearless frontline fighter of the July Uprising and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha, is no more among us,” Yunus said. He vowed to bring those involved in this brutal murder to justice quickly, saying, “No leniency will be shown” to the killers. “I sincerely call upon all citizens – keep your patience and restraint,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. “Let law enforcement agencies and other relevant organisations have the opportunity to carry out investigations with professionalism,” he said, adding that the state is fully committed to establishing the rule of law.

Why were anti-India slogans raised during the protests?

The National Citizen Party (NCP) in Bangladesh is considered an influential organization linked to the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) movement. Many of its members participated in the recent protests against India.  They raised anti-India slogans and alleged that the accused involved in the attack on Hadi had fled to India.

Taking to Facebook, NCP President Sarjis Alam said, “Until India returns the killers of martyr brother Hadi, the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh will remain closed. Now or never. We are in a war.” A student group, called Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, brought out a mourning procession on the Dhaka University campus and marched to Shahbagh to join the demonstration.

National Citizen Party (NCP), a large offshoot of Students against Discrimination (SAD) that led last year’s violent protest, joined them, chanting anti-India slogans alleging Hadi’s assailants fled to India after committing the murder. They called upon the interim government to close the Indian high commission until they were returned. “The interim government, until India returns assassins of Hadi Bhai, the Indian High Commission to Bangladesh will remain closed. Now or Never. We are in a war!,” said Sarjis Alm, a key leader of NCP.

The Chhatra Shakti burnt an effigy of the home adviser, demanding his resignation for failure to arrest Hadi’s killers. A group of people, believed to be part of the protesters, attacked the offices of Bangla newspaper Prothom Alo’s office and the nearby Daily Star at the capital’s Karwan Bazar, near the Shahbagh intersection.

What steps has the interim government taken to restore law and order?

Reports said they vandalised several floors while journalists and staff of the newspaper were trapped inside, and the mob ignited a fire in front of the building. “Several hundred demonstrators reached the Prothom Alo office around 11 pm and later surrounded the building,” a witness said, adding the protesters then set the Daily Star office on fire following the vandalism of a Prothom Alo building.

It remained unclear why both newspapers, known for their passive support for Yunus and his interim government, came under attack. The social media platforms showed a group of demonstrators also headed towards 32 Dhanmandi, the home of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, regarded as the centre point of Bangladesh’s pre-independence struggle for autonomy for decades.

An Awami League office has also been damaged by fire. Properties belonging to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina have also suffered damage from vandalism. It is reported that Sheikh Hasina went to India after the mass uprising last year. Protesters also blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and attacked a former minister’s house in Chattogram.

The chief adviser declared a one-day state mourning on Saturday, saying the national flag will be hoisted at half-mast in all government, semi-government, autonomous offices, educational institutions, government and private buildings, and Bangladesh missions abroad.

Why have anti-India slogans been raised?

He said special prayers seeking forgiveness for Hadi’s soul will be organised in every mosque across the country after Friday prayers. “No one can stop the democratic progress of this country through threat, terrorist activities or bloodshed,” he said, adding that the responsibility of realising Hadi’s dream lies on the shoulders of the entire nation. “Let us be patient, not listen to propaganda and rumours, and refrain from any rash decisions,” Yunus said and urged his countrymen to remain united.

Hadi’s death came hours after his family consented to a surgery to be performed in Singapore as a last-ditch effort to save his life. The current situation in Bangladesh is “complex and evolving”, a parliamentary committee on external affairs has said. The Ministry of External Affairs informed the panel that the government “remains concerned” about the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

The committee in its report titled ‘Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship’ has also said that with regard to the impact of recent political developments on broader bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that India has made every effort to “insulate bilateral relation” from its impact. A leader of the Inquiab Mancha Mohammad Abdul Ahad said Hadi’s body would be brought home on Friday. The home adviser earlier announced a reward of Taka 50 lakh for clues leading to the arrest of Hadi’s suspected assailants. Police have arrested the prime suspect Foysal Karim Masud’s parents, wife and a female friend.