Bangladesh Faces Turmoil: Youth Leader's Death Sparks Nationwide Unrest

Bangladesh is on high alert. Police and paramilitary forces are out in full force in Dhaka. They are preparing for the funeral of a young leader. His name is Sharif Osman Hadi. He was a key figure in the student-led uprising. This uprising toppled the longtime Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, last year. Hadi's death has sparked a wave of violence. Masked attackers shot him in the head last week. He passed away on Thursday night in Singapore. He had been on life support for six days. His death has led to mob attacks on major newspapers and cultural institutions. Bangladesh is set to elect a new parliament on February 12. Many hope this will bring stability. The country has been unstable for nearly two years. It wants to reclaim its position as a regional success story. However, violent protests and political conflicts are causing problems. These include clashes with Islamist hardliners. They have dampened the national euphoria. This euphoria followed Hasina's ouster in August 2024. Analysts say this situation shows the challenges faced by the interim government. This government is led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. Questions are being raised about his control over the country. Bangladesh is the world's largest apparel producer after China. The government has declared Saturday a day of state mourning for Hadi. They have urged citizens to resist mob violence. They warn that turmoil could threaten the fragile democratic transition.Human Rights Watch has condemned Hadi's killing. They call it a "terrible act. " They urge the government to act quickly. They want to halt the violence that has gripped the country since Hasina's ouster. The group also condemns attacks on the media. They see these as attacks on free expression. Bangladesh ranks 149th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. Rights groups warn that continued attacks could shrink civic space ahead of the election. Amnesty International has called for prompt, independent investigations. They want to look into Hadi's killing and the subsequent violence. This includes the burning of newspaper offices and harassment of journalists. Demonstrations have continued in the Shahbagh area of the capital. Crowds are demanding justice for Hadi and accountability for the attacks. A mob stormed the Dhaka office of Udichi Shilpigosthi. This is Bangladesh's premier progressive cultural organization. The violence has spread beyond the capital. In Chittagong, protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission. This reflects growing anti-India sentiment since Hasina fled to New Delhi after her ouster. Her party, the Awami League, has been barred from the election. They have threatened unrest. Some fear this could derail the vote.