What Is Happening In Bangladesh?
Bangladesh is witnessing fresh unrest after the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
Large protests broke out in Dhaka on Saturday and other parts of the country following his funeral, leading to clashes with security forces and a serious breach of security at the national Parliament building.
Angry protesters broke through barricades and entered the Bangladesh Parliament complex.
Sharif Osman Hadi was a well-known youth leader involved in political campaigning.
On December 12, he was shot in the head by masked gunmen while attending an election campaign event in the Bijoynagar area of central Dhaka.
Bangladesh Holds State Mourning For Slain Uprising Leader Sharif Osman Hadi
After the attack, Hadi was flown abroad for advanced medical treatment. However, he died in Singapore on Thursday, a week after the shooting.
His death has become a major trigger for public anger across Bangladesh.
Hadi’s funeral was held earlier on Saturday under heavy security, as authorities feared unrest. Thousands of people gathered in Dhaka to pay their respects.
We are all Hadi!
We mourn the tragic killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader of the July Uprising. A courageous and principled voice, he stood firmly against all forms of oppression and foreign hegemony to safeguard the sovereignty of Bangladesh. His sacrifice for justice… pic.twitter.com/9XmGaBCy9L
— Dr Mizanur Rahman Azhari (@AzhariTweets) December 20, 2025
After the funeral, emotions ran high. Protesters began marching through the city, eventually overpowering security barricades and entering the Parliament building.
Officials confirmed that this was not the first time protesters had attempted to breach high-security zones during the ongoing unrest.
The protests quickly spread beyond Dhaka to other regions of Bangladesh.
Demonstrators took to the streets demanding justice for Hadi and punishment for those responsible for his killing.
Several government buildings and properties linked to the former ruling Awami League were vandalized during the protests.
The unrest also took a diplomatic turn. Some protesters attempted to march toward Indian diplomatic sites in Dhaka.
On Wednesday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the residence of India’s deputy high commissioner. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Bangladesh descends into emergency as unrest erupts: mobs roam streets, vandalizing and burning buildings, targeting media and lynching victims. Warnings issued over Indian symbols, High Commission, temples, minorities Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, tribes.#BangladeshCrisis pic.twitter.com/zKd8ochvVB
— देशहित सर्वोपरि (@Mindblower81) December 19, 2025
Protesters shouted anti-India slogans and alleged that the attackers involved in Hadi’s killing had fled to India, a claim that has not been officially confirmed.
Supporters of the National Citizen Party (NCP), a splinter group of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) movement, joined the protests. SAD had played a key role in last year’s nationwide demonstrations.
Bangladesh authorities have placed law enforcement agencies on high alert. Security has been tightened around key government installations, diplomatic areas, and public spaces.
Officials said that investigations into Hadi’s killing are ongoing, along with inquiries into how protesters managed to breach Parliament security.
