Angry protesters stormed and set fire to the offices of two of Bangladesh's leading newspapers late on Thursday following the death of prominent activist Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi, a spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha student group, died in a Singapore hospital after being shot in the head last week. The attacks targeted the offices of Prothom Alo and the Daily Star in Dhaka, trapping journalists inside before they were evacuated.
Hadi was shot by masked assailants on a motorbike in Dhaka last Friday. He was flown to Singapore in critical condition but died on Thursday evening. The Inquilab Mancha, described as a revolutionary cultural platform, had planned for Hadi to run as an independent candidate in upcoming national elections. He was an outspoken critic of neighbouring India and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile since being ousted last year.
Authorities identified suspects and suggested the shooter may have fled to India, sparking diplomatic tensions. India summoned Bangladesh's envoy, and Bangladesh later summoned the Indian envoy for clarification. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed across Dhaka and other cities amid fears of further unrest. Streets were calm on Friday morning, but residents worried about fresh violence after prayers.
Videos on social media showed mobs vandalising and setting fire to the newspaper buildings. Both dailies stopped updating their online editions and did not publish print editions on Friday. Violence also spread to other cities, including Chittagong, where protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission and set fire to a house belonging to a former Awami League minister. At least four people were injured in clashes outside the Indian mission.
