Bangladesh violence highlights: UN rights chief urges 'impartial probe' into Osman Hadi's death

Bangladesh violence live updates: The Bangladesh interim government on Friday expressed solidarity with journalists and media organisations targeted during the recent violence, saying it “stands by” Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

In a statement, the interim administration led by chief advisor Muhammad Yunus condemned the attacks on newsrooms and journalists amid the unrest.

“To the journalists of The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age: we stand with you. We are deeply sorry for the terror and violence you have endured,” the government said, according to ANI news agency.

Praising the response of journalists during the attacks, the statement added, “The nation has witnessed your courage and tolerance in the face of terror. Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself. We promise you full justice.”

The remarks come after mobs vandalised and set fire to media offices in Dhaka following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, prompting concerns over press freedom and safety in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh violence live updates: The Bangladesh interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, on Friday issued a statement on the ongoing unrest, calling on citizens to reject mob violence and acts of hatred, according to ANI news agency.

The government said, “We strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties,” the interim government said.

Emphasising the broader stakes, the statement noted that Bangladesh is at a decisive point in its democratic journey. “This is a critical moment in our country's history. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace,” it said.

The government also linked the appeal for restraint to the upcoming elections and referendum, describing them as “not merely political exercises, but a solemn national commitment.” Referring to slain student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, it added, “This promise is inseparable from the dream for which Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi gave his life. Honouring his sacrifice demands restraint, responsibility, and a firm commitment to reject hatred.”

Bangladesh violence live updates: Reacting to the latest developments in Bangladesh’s capital, former ambassador Anil Trigunayat said minority communities and the Indian High Commission have come under attack amid the unrest, reported PTI news agency.

“Minority communities as well as the Indian High Commission have been under attack. The country is at a crucial juncture as it plans to hold elections in February, and these developments are not good for Bangladesh,” Trigunayat said, warning that the situation could have serious implications as the country heads toward polls, PTI added.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Reports of violent protests and vandalisation emerged soon after the news of Hadi's death broke. The demonstrations were marked by emotionally charged slogans invoking Hadi’s name, ⁠with protesters vowing to continue their movement and demanding swift justice. Several areas remained tense, with additional police and paramilitary forces deployed to prevent further violence.

Offices of Bangladesh's prominent newspapers such as Prothom Alo and Daily Star were set ablaze by angry mob while the staff was still inside.

The fire at the Daily Star building was brought under control at 1:40 am (1940 GMT on Thursday), AFP reported, citing firefighting officials. Read More

Bangladesh violence live updates: A journalist trapped on the rooftop of The Daily Star recounted the harrowing ordeal to BD News24. The journalist said a warning call alerted staff that the mob, after attacking Prothom Alo, was moving toward their building.

“We were lucky — we narrowly escaped a major disaster today. I don’t know where this country is headed,” the journalist told BD News24.

By the time newsroom staff attempted to evacuate, the mob had reached the ground floor, vandalising the office and setting parts of the building on fire. Amid thick smoke, a group of journalists abandoned attempts to reach the lower floors and instead sought refuge on the 10th-floor rooftop, the report added. Read More

Bangladesh violence live updates: Protesters continued their attacks at number 32 Dhanmondi, the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Sheikh Hasina and the revered "Father of the Nation" of Bangladesh.

The residence had already been partially demolished. Screengrab from a video shared by ANI news agency shows the remaining parts of the historic house being torn down.

A poster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the site was also set on fire, highlighting the intensity of the unrest in the area, ANI reported.

Bangladesh violence live updates: At number 32 Dhanmondi, the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, already partially demolished, came under further attack as protesters tore down the remaining parts. A poster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the site was also set on fire, news agency ANI reported.

In a separate incident, the office of Chhayanaut, a prominent institution dedicated to Bengali culture in Bangladesh, was vandalized and set ablaze last night. Videos shared by ANI show broken furniture and shattered files scattered across the floor.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Following last night’s vandalism and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, two of Bangladesh’s leading media organizations, both newspapers have reportedly halted their print editions. Their online platforms have also been temporarily shut down.

In a note titled “To the Reader” on Friday morning, Prothom Alo explained that its office had been subjected to extensive attacks, vandalism, and arson overnight, making normal operations impossible, reported BBC Bangla. The newspaper further said that its printed edition could not be published today.

The Daily Star also issued a similar notice on its online platform, stating that publication is temporarily disrupted following vandalism and arson at its office the previous night, the report added.

Bangladesh violence live updates: As unrest spread across Bangladesh following Osman Hadi’s death, Inquilab Mancha called on the public to stay away from violence, vandalism and arson.

In a Facebook post shared late Thursday night, the organisation warned that ongoing attacks were part of a broader attempt to destabilise the country.

It said: "Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand -- 32 and 36 are not the same."

Referring to the upcoming February elections, the group urged people to reflect on the consequences of continued unrest, adding: "As the February elections approach, consider who truly benefits if unrest is created in the country. To maintain stability in Bangladesh, fully cooperate with the government and refrain from violence."

Bangladesh violence live updates: Protests over the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi continued to escalate in Dhaka on Friday, with demonstrators targeting the partially demolished residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, according to ANI news agency.

After a night of violent unrest during which offices of Daily Star and Prothom Alo were attacked, protesters were seen attempting to tear down the remaining portions of the house, the report added.

Bangladesh violence live updates: The Election Commission has reportedly mourned the death of Inquilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi, describing him as a committed figure who represented the aspirations of young people in Bangladesh.

In a condolence message, as reported by BD News, the constitutional body said Hadi was “devoted to Bangladesh, a fighter, and a voice for the youth.”

The EC also prayed for the eternal peace of Hadi’s departed soul and conveyed condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Protests blocked sections of roads in Shahbagh on Friday morning, following overnight attacks and vandalism reported from multiple parts of the country after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, reported BBC Bangla.

Around 10 am, roughly 200 protesters were seen at the site. The demonstrators were not operating under the banner of any political party or platform.

The report added, protest marches were being held in sections, with barricades placed on all sides of the road. Ambulances from nearby hospitals were, however, being allowed to pass through.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Prothom Alo and The Daily Star will not publish on Friday after suspending their operations in the wake of the overnight attacks on their offices, a BBC Bangla report said. The online services of both media outlets have also been largely disrupted.

Senior officials from the two newspapers confirmed the development to BBC Bangla around midnight on Thursday. They said employees were instructed to immediately vacate the premises following the sudden vandalism and arson.

With offices temporarily shut, both print publication and digital operations have come to a halt, making it impossible to bring out Friday’s editions, the officials said.

Bangladesh violence live updates: The body of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on Friday evening, according to a Facebook post by Inquilab Mancha.

Hadi’s family is set to depart Singapore with his body at 3:50 pm, with arrival in Bangladesh expected around 6 pm. His first funeral will be held in Singapore on Friday.

Inqilab Manch said Hadi’s main funeral prayers will take place in Dhaka on Saturday after Zohr at Manik Mia Avenue.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Visuals from Dhaka show the aftermath at the Daily Star office, which was torched during protests following the death of Osman Hadi.

The killing of Hadi, a prominent leader of the protests against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has sparked widespread unrest across Bangladesh. Amid the violence, offices of both the Daily Star and Prothom Alo—the country’s two largest newspapers—were set on fire in the capital.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has expressed deep shock and sorrow following the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi.

In a late-night condolence message, cited by Bangladesh media outlet BD News, the chief justice said: "The country has lost a courageous voice in the untimely and tragic death of Sharif Osman Hadi."

Osman Hadi passed away while receiving treatment in Singapore at 9:45 pm on Thursday, the report added.

Bangladesh violence live updates: At the Daily Star Farmgate office in Dhaka, editor of New Age, Nurul Kabir, was reportedly harassed by a group of individuals, according to BD News.

Kabir, who also serves as president of the Executive Committee of the Newspaper Editors’ Council, arrived at the office Thursday night after protesters had vandalised and set fire to the building. While attempting to intervene and stop the attackers, he was directly threatened by the mob.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Violence erupted in Dhaka early Friday following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader from Bangladesh’s 2024 pro-democracy uprising, who succumbed to injuries sustained in an assassination attempt while receiving treatment in Singapore.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding justice for Hadi, 32, calling for the arrest of those responsible for his killing.

Authorities reported multiple fires in the capital, including at buildings housing the country’s two largest newspapers, Daily Star and Prothom Alo, trapping staff inside. A spokesperson for the Fire Brigade and Civil Defence confirmed at least three cases of arson early Friday, according to AFP.

Hadi had played a pivotal role in last year’s uprising that ended the autocratic rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India. He was contesting a parliamentary seat in the February 2026 national elections.

On December 12, masked assailants shot Hadi as he was leaving a mosque in Dhaka. He was airlifted to Singapore for medical treatment, where he died on Thursday.

Bangladesh violence live updates: At least 25 journalists from The Daily Star were rescued more than four hours after a mob stormed the newspaper’s office in Dhaka’s Kawran Bazar, reported BD News.

The crowd descended on the English-language daily’s office around 12 am on Friday. Earlier, protesters had attacked the Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo, vandalising and setting the building on fire while chanting slogans, the report added.

Both newspapers, among the largest in Bangladesh, were targeted as the protesters accuse them of being aligned with neighbouring India, where Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge, AFP reported.

Bangladesh violence live updates: The residence of Bangladesh’s first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, was vandalised and set ablaze once again, according to Reuters news agency.

The house had earlier come under attack twice last year, in February and again in August, the report said, marking another escalation amid the ongoing unrest.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Visuals emerging from Dhaka show the charred remains of the Prothom Alo office, which was set on fire during protests. Firefighters were seen at the site as emergency operations continued.

A video shared by ANI showed blackened walls of the newspaper’s building, with a crowd gathered outside. Light smoke was still visible lingering in the area.

Amid the unrest, offices of both Prothom Alo and Daily Star—two of Bangladesh’s largest newspapers—were set on fire in the capital.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Protesters blocked a major highway connecting Dhaka with other parts of the country and vandalised the residence of a former minister in Chittagong in southeastern Bangladesh, according to footage aired on local television and cited by AFP.

Separately, demonstrators also targeted Chhayanaut, a prominent centre in Dhaka dedicated to promoting Bengali culture, as unrest continued to spread.

Bangladesh violence live updates: Amid the chaos, Daily Star reporter Zyma Islam said she was trapped inside the burning building. Posting on Facebook, she wrote: "I can't breathe anymore. There's too much smoke. I am inside. You are killing me."

This came after multiple incidents of arson were reported in Dhaka early Friday after news of Osman Hadi’s death spread, according to a spokesperson for the Fire Brigade and Civil Defence, quoted by news agency AFP. Among the fires were one at the building housing Daily Star and another at premises where Prothom Alo operates.

The two newspapers, among the largest in Bangladesh, were targeted after protesters accused them of being aligned with neighbouring India, where former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge.

Bangladesh violence live updates: With tensions flaring nationwide after Osman Hadi’s death, Inqilab Moncho has called on citizens to steer clear of violence, vandalism and acts of arson.

In a Facebook post shared late Thursday night, the group said: "Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand that 32 and 36 are not the same

The organisation also cautioned against efforts to create instability ahead of the February elections, stating: "As the February elections approach, consider who truly benefits if unrest is created in the country. To maintain stability in Bangladesh, fully cooperate with the government and refrain from violence."

Bangladesh violence live updates: Protesters hurled bricks and stones at the Indian Assistant High Commission late Thursday night following news of the death of Inqilab Mancha convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi, according to BD News.

A group staged a sit-in outside the mission’s office in the Khulshi area around 11 pm, shouting slogans against Hadi’s killing, as well as anti-Awami League and anti-India slogans. Police said another group of protesters simultaneously gathered at Gate No. 2 of the premises, the report added.

Police moved in shortly after learning of the demonstration and used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd. Protesters retaliated by throwing stones before scattering into nearby lanes. Law enforcement regained control of the area around 2 am, BD News reported.