Bangladesh is grappling with widespread unrest following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in anti-government protests. Hadi, who succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained during a campaign in Dhaka, will be buried today after his body returned to the capital. The interim government has appealed for calm, denouncing violence attributed to ‘fringe elements.’ Security forces, including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), have been deployed across Dhaka to restore order. Protests erupted around the Shahbagh intersection as activists demanded justice for Hadi, who was shot by masked gunmen last week. He initially received treatment in Dhaka before being flown to Singapore for advanced care, where he ultimately passed away. The demonstrations intensified with participants calling for a ‘revolutionary government’ and raising anti-India slogans. Political parties have reportedly used Hadi’s death to mobilize crowds, with calls for retribution against his alleged killers echoing nationwide. Similar incidents of vandalism, including an attack on the Indian Assistant High Commissioner’s residence in Chattogram, occurred. A day of national mourning has been declared. In a separate incident, a Hindu man was reportedly lynched and his body set ablaze in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy, an act the government has condemned.
