Intense riots have broken out in the Bangladeshi capital following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, the founder of the youth revolutionary organization “Inqilab Mancha.”
Hadi succumbed to his injuries at the Singapore General Hospital after being shot last Friday in Dhaka’s Purana Paltan area.
🚨Horrific Lynching in Bangladesh:
A Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched in public tonight on the highway in Dubaliapara, Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh, over alleged religious insult.😢 #Dhaka #Bangladesh #Bhaluka #DhakaUniversity pic.twitter.com/CTQ50oo7hh
— Fauzii (@fauzdar15) December 18, 2025
His death was officially confirmed by Inqilab Mancha and through his verified Facebook account.
Following the news of his passing on Thursday night, enraged protesters targeted the headquarters of major media outlets. Protesters attacked, ransacked, and set fire to the offices of the prominent Bengali daily Prothom Alo and the English-language newspaper The Daily Star.
Escalation of Violence
According to eyewitnesses, a procession marched from Shahbagh toward Karwan Bazar upon hearing of Hadi’s death.
আধিপত্যবাদ বিরোধী লড়াইয়ের অকুতোভয় সৈনিক ওসমান হাদিকে ভারতীয় মদদে গুলি করে হত্যার প্রতিবাদে রাজধানীর শাহবাগে জুলাই মিনারের সামনে বিক্ষুদ্ধ ছাত্র-জনতার অবস্থান#WeAreHadi #Bangladesh #Dhaka pic.twitter.com/GSjb2GboLj
— DOAM বাংলা (@doamuslimsbn2) December 19, 2025
Demonstrators surrounded the office of Prothom Alo, accusing it of being pro-India and pro-Awami League. Despite a police presence, the situation spiraled out of control, resulting in a four-story building owned by the media house being completely gutted by fire.
Protesters also stormed the offices of The Daily Star, setting the premises ablaze.
Bangobondhu Sheikh Mujib’s house at Dhanmondi 32 was set on fire and destroyed. #Dhaka #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/IlJIpq3nc6
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) December 18, 2025
Emergency Rescue Operations
The Fire Service and Civil Defense teams arrived at the scene to battle the flames. Several journalists and staff members trapped inside the burning buildings were successfully rescued using cranes.
Around 11:45 PM, mobs armed with sticks and iron rods shattered windows and forced their way inside the offices. Furniture and important documents were dragged onto the streets and set on fire. A journalist from Prothom Alo reported that a sense of extreme fear prevailed as many staff members remained trapped during the peak of the violence.
Current Situation
While law enforcement agencies have been mobilized to regain control of the capital, reports indicate that tensions remain high and the situation in the affected areas is extremely volatile.
