Bangladesh Tense After Death of Youth Leader Sharif Osman Hadi; Media Offices Torched and Anti-India Protests Escalate

Bangladesh is on high alert following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha and a prominent figure of the 2024 “July Uprising.” Hadi, who was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka on December 12 while launching his election campaign, succumbed to his injuries in a Singapore hospital on Thursday, December 18, 2025. His death sparked immediate and violent protests across Dhaka and other major cities, with mobs targeting media houses like The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, accusing them of pro-India bias. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus has declared Saturday, December 20, as a day of national mourning, while the Indian High Commission has issued a high-level security advisory for its nationals as anti-India sentiment continues to surge.