Bangladesh protesters demand arrests over killing of student leader

DHAKA, Bangladesh (Journos News) Protests swept across Bangladesh for a second consecutive day as demonstrators demanded the arrest of those responsible for the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a central figure in last year’s pro-democracy uprising. The Bangladesh student leader killing has intensified political tensions during a fragile transition period, prompting appeals for restraint from the government and international observers.

Crowds gathered in Dhaka and several other cities after confirmation that Hadi, 32, died in a Singapore hospital on Thursday, days after being shot by masked gunmen in the capital.

Protests and public anger

In Dhaka on Friday, demonstrators assembled near major intersections and public buildings, chanting slogans calling for justice and accountability. Similar protests were reported in Gazipur, Sylhet and the port city of Chattogram, according to local media and witnesses.

Hadi was shot last week as he was leaving a mosque in Dhaka. He was initially treated locally before being flown to Singapore for specialist care, but later succumbed to his injuries. His death triggered an outpouring of grief and anger among supporters, many of whom viewed him as a symbol of resistance during the 2024 uprising that forced long-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country.

At one protest in Dhaka, student demonstrator Sajid Al Adeeb said people had gathered to demand the swift arrest of those responsible. He alleged that the attackers were currently in India, a claim that New Delhi has not commented on.

“I urge the government to take immediate and appropriate steps to arrest those responsible,” Adeeb said. “Above all, I want Hadi’s ideals to live on.”

Funeral plans and calls for justice

Hadi’s body was flown back to Bangladesh on Friday evening. The government said his funeral prayer would be held on Saturday in front of the parliament building, followed by a period during which members of the public can pay their respects at Dhaka University’s central mosque. He is to be buried later the same day.

Family members said they were focused solely on accountability. Amir Hossain, Hadi’s brother-in-law, told reporters that the family wanted justice rather than compensation or political concessions.

“We don’t need anything except justice,” Hossain said. “The perpetrators must be punished.”

Special prayers were held at mosques across the country on Friday, and authorities declared Saturday an official day of mourning in honour of the slain student leader.

International concern and investigation demands

The killing drew condemnation from the United Nations, with rights chief Volker Türk urging Bangladeshi authorities to carry out a credible investigation. In a statement, Türk said he was “deeply troubled” by Hadi’s death and warned against retaliatory violence.

“Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,” he said, calling for a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent inquiry, as well as due process and accountability for those responsible.

Bangladeshi police said they had launched a nationwide manhunt, releasing photographs of two key suspects and announcing a reward for information leading to their arrest. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive, and officials said the investigation was ongoing.

Media attacks and security clampdown

The unrest has also been accompanied by attacks on media outlets in the capital. Late on Thursday, several buildings were set on fire or vandalised, including offices of the leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

Critics of the publications accuse them of favouring India, a long-time ally of Bangladesh’s former leadership and the country where Hasina has taken refuge since fleeing Dhaka last year. Both newspapers have denied political bias and condemned the attacks.

Staff trapped inside The Daily Star newsroom said smoke quickly filled the building before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control. One reporter posted a distress message on social media during the incident, later confirming that employees were safely rescued.

Sajjad Sharif, executive editor of Prothom Alo, described the arson as an attack on press freedom and freedom of expression. The interim government said it had contacted the editors of both newspapers to express condemnation and support.

Security has been tightened across Dhaka, including strict restrictions on drone flights around the parliament complex. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid violence and said those responsible for vandalism represented only a small group of fringe elements.

Political transition under strain

Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus since the collapse of Hasina’s government in 2024. The administration has pledged to oversee reforms and prepare the country for national elections scheduled for February 2026.

In a statement on Friday, the government said the country was at a “critical moment” in its democratic transition and warned against actions that could undermine stability.

“We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those who thrive on chaos and reject peace,” the statement said.

Earlier in the week, even before Hadi’s death, protesters had marched toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka demanding Hasina’s return to Bangladesh, highlighting strained relations between the two neighbours. On Thursday, demonstrators also blocked a major highway and attacked the residence of a former minister in Chattogram, according to local television footage.

Regional and diplomatic warnings

Hadi was a leader of the student group Inqilab Mancha and had recently announced plans to contest a parliamentary seat in the 2026 election, raising his national profile beyond campus politics.

Foreign missions have issued security advisories as protests continue. The United States embassy in Dhaka urged its citizens to remain vigilant, warning that gatherings intended to be peaceful can quickly turn confrontational and escalate into violence.

As Bangladesh mourns the loss of a prominent student leader, authorities face mounting pressure to deliver a credible investigation while preventing further unrest during a delicate political transition.