Bangladesh deployed large numbers of police and paramilitary troops across Dhaka and other major cities on Friday following violent protests over the killing of a prominent youth activist, as fears of renewed unrest grew ahead of national elections scheduled for February.
Security forces were placed on alert after overnight demonstrations turned destructive in parts of the capital, although streets were largely calm by Friday morning. Residents said tension remained high, with concerns that protests could resume after Friday prayers.
The unrest followed the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32 year old youth leader and election candidate who was shot in the head by masked attackers in Dhaka last week while launching his campaign.
Hadi served as a spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha, also known as the Platform for Revolution, a movement that emerged from last year’s student led protests that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office.
He was first treated at a local hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced care. Doctors placed him on life support, but he died six days later, according to officials.
Inquilab Mancha describes itself as a revolutionary cultural platform shaped by protest movements. Hadi had been a vocal critic of India and was viewed by supporters as a symbol of post uprising political change.
Anger over Hadi’s death spilled into violence on Thursday night. Videos circulating online showed crowds vandalising the offices of Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, two of Bangladesh’s most widely read newspapers.
Firefighters said a blaze at the Daily Star building was brought under control, while journalists trapped inside were rescued with the help of emergency crews and security forces.
Police increased patrols around media houses and sensitive locations, and authorities said additional deployments were aimed at preventing further violence rather than dispersing peaceful gatherings.
Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration since August 2024, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, after Hasina fled to India following months of student protests.
In a televised address after Hadi’s death, Yunus described the killing as a serious blow to the country’s political transition.
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“His passing represents an irreplaceable loss to the nation’s political and democratic sphere,” Yunus said, while urging restraint and warning that unrest could damage efforts to hold a credible election.
He said authorities were committed to a transparent investigation and to holding those responsible accountable.
The interim government is already under pressure from delays to reform programmes and warnings of unrest from Hasina’s Awami League, which has been barred from contesting the upcoming vote.
