Bangladesh declared a national day of mourning on Saturday in honor of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the 2024 student uprising movement, whose tragic death has ignited two days of massive protests across the nation. The 32-year-old activist, who succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during an attack by masked assailants over a week ago, was laid to rest in a heavily secured funeral ceremony at the Parliament Building in Dhaka.
Authorities deployed extensive police forces equipped with body cameras throughout the capital ahead of the funeral procession, which commenced at 2:00 PM local time at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The national flag flew at half-mast across all government buildings as a symbol of collective grief.
While protests had largely subsided by Saturday, media outlets continued reporting fresh incidents of violence. Cultural institutions, newspaper offices, and political buildings faced arson attacks and storming throughout the week, highlighting the nation’s escalating tensions. The residence of Anisul Islam Mahmud, chairman of the National Democratic Front and leader of a Jatiya Party faction, was vandalized and set ablaze in Chattogram, Bangladesh’s second-largest city.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the state-sponsored cultural center, announced temporary suspension of all activities due to security concerns following attacks on its premises. Major newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, both targeted by protesters, struggled to maintain operations with staff forced to evacuate to rooftops during fires while pledging to continue digital publications.
Hadi served as spokesperson for Inquilab Moncho (Platform for Revolution), a leading force within the student protest movement. He passed away Thursday at a Singapore hospital from head injuries sustained during the assassination attempt. The activist had been preparing to contest the February 2026 parliamentary elections representing Dhaka-8 constituency.
His death triggered violent demonstrations that targeted residential properties, party offices, and even the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong. Protesters expressed fury over alleged Indian involvement, suggesting the perpetrator might have fled to India.
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation in August 2024, strongly condemned the violence while appealing for calm. Demonstrators continued demanding extradition of suspects and justice for Hadi and other victims. Hasina herself received a death sentence in November for human rights violations during the brutal suppression of the student uprising that claimed approximately 1,400 lives.
Families of victims maintain hope that the former prime minister and others responsible for the crackdown will eventually face trial.