World News : Fresh violence broke out in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka late Thursday night after news emerged of the death of Sharif Usman Hadi, a key leader of the 2024 student movement and spokesperson of the Inqilab platform, in Singapore. Angry mobs took to the streets, setting fires and vandalising properties at several locations, plunging parts of the city into chaos.
The unrest intensified in the Dhanmondi-32 area, known for being the ancestral home of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Large crowds gathered late at night, raising slogans and indulging in arson. Videos shared on social media by a leading Bengali daily showed protesters chanting religious slogans while torching buildings. Demonstrators also expressed anger over the country’s deteriorating situation and strongly criticised former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
During the violence, protesters targeted the offices of two major newspapers. A mob attacked the office of English daily The Daily Star, trapping at least 25 journalists inside the building for nearly four hours. According to reports, the attack took place around midnight. Earlier, the office of a prominent Bengali daily was vandalised and set on fire.
At another newspaper office, attackers ransacked the ground floor and first floor before setting the building ablaze around 12:30 am. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing two floors and sending thick plumes of smoke into the air. Journalists said fire engines could not reach the spot for a long time as protesters blocked the roads.
Trapped amid flames and smoke, journalists spent the night on the rooftop, appealing for help through phone calls and social media posts. A woman reporter sent a distress message saying she was unable to breathe due to heavy smoke and feared for her life. Firefighters managed to control the blaze around 2 am, but evacuation was delayed as the mob attempted to re-enter the building.
As the situation worsened, the army was deployed. Around 4 am, journalists were finally rescued under military protection. Reports also said some journalists who tried to engage with protesters were assaulted.
The violence occurred despite Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus appealing to citizens to maintain peace and restraint, urging them to allow law enforcement agencies to carry out investigations professionally.
Protesters accused the targeted newspapers of being pro-India and of taking a soft stance toward Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India since the 2024 student movement. Sharif Usman Hadi was a vocal critic of both India and Hasina and was reportedly preparing to contest the upcoming elections as an independent candidate.
