Bangladesh on edge after youth leader’s assassination ahead of elections

The killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader and face of Bangladesh’s recent protest movement, has plunged the country into unrest just weeks before a crucial national election.

Hadi was shot by a masked gunman on a motorcycle while campaigning in Dhaka on December 12. He was rushed abroad for treatment but died of his injuries in Singapore on December 18. The brazen attack, carried out in broad daylight, has shocked the nation and intensified fears over political violence, News Bytes writes. 

Who was Sharif Osman Hadi?

Hadi emerged as a key figure during the July 2024 student-led uprising that toppled long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He later became a spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, a political platform born out of the protest movement.

Known for his fiery rhetoric, Hadi called for sweeping political reforms, including a constitutional ban on the Awami League, and warned both the Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) against a return to what he described as “politics of the past.” His outspoken opposition to pro-India policies made him a polarising but influential voice among young voters.

Bangladesh is preparing for national elections in February, and tensions were already high. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, said the killing was part of a wider conspiracy to destabilise the country and derail both the election and an upcoming referendum.

Protests and unrest

News of Hadi’s death sparked protests across the country:

• Arson attacks were reported in Dhaka, including at the buildings of leading newspapers The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.

• Protesters attempted a sit-in near the residence of India’s deputy ambassador in Dhaka, prompting police to fire tear gas.

• Demonstrators blocked a major highway out of the capital and attacked the home of a former minister in Chattogram, in southeastern Bangladesh.

• Chhayanaut, a revered institution promoting Bengali culture in Dhaka, was also attacked, drawing widespread condemnation.

Authorities declared a period of state mourning as security forces struggled to contain the unrest.

What’s next for Bangladesh?

Bangladesh’s February election will choose 300 lawmakers. The last vote, held in January 2024, gave Sheikh Hasina a fourth consecutive term, but opposition parties dismissed it as deeply flawed.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is widely expected to perform strongly this time. Zia, however, is currently in intensive care in Dhaka, battling a severe lung infection, adding another layer of uncertainty.

By Sabina Mammadli