How Bangladesh erupted in protests over Hadi’s death

POBNEWS24, Dhaka Dec 19, 2025 : Protests erupted across Bangladesh over the shooting death of Inquilab Manch spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. After the news of the death of the Inquilab Manch leader spread on Thursday night, activists took to the streets across the country, including the capital. They blocked roads and set fires to protest demanding justice. At that time, they chanted slogans such as ‘We will all be Hadi, we will fight for ages, Awami League headquarters, break it, crush it,’ ‘Why did Hadi die, give an interim reply,’ ‘People, stop the Indian aggression’ etc. In the capital, protesters attacked the buildings of the Bengali daily Prothom Alo and the English Daily Star, vandalizing and setting them on fire.
Osman Hadi died at around 9:45 pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot. On Friday, miscreants from a moving motorcycle shot Hadi, who was in a rickshaw, in the Purana Paltan area of ​​the capital. Later, he was taken to Singapore for treatment.
After 10 pm, angry students blocked Shahbagh intersection following his death. This stopped traffic around Shahbagh intersection. At that time, they were seen chanting slogans like ‘Who are you, Hadi Hadi’, ‘Delhi or Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka’, ‘Naraye Takbir, Allahu Akbar’, ‘My brother is in the grave, why is the murderer outside?’, ‘Inquilab Inquilab, Zindabad Zindabad’ etc. At that time, they demanded the resignation of the Home Affairs Advisor.
A student named Riyadul Islam, who participated in the protest, said that Abrar Fahad and Osman Hadi will return from time to time. Osman Hadi cannot be eliminated by killing him. The fire that Shaheed Osman Hadi has spread throughout the country will one day return as a volcano.
He also said, “Today we do not have Hadi. But from now on, we are all Hadi. Each of us will represent Hadi.”
At the rally, the students said that standing on Hadi’s blood, they will continue their lifelong struggle against Indian hegemony and internal fascism.
An M student named Habibur Rahman said, “As long as we live, this struggle will continue from generation to generation. We will never allow Indian aggression and hegemony to advance.”
The students participating in the protest took an oath on Hadi’s blood and said, “The oath on the blood of Shaheed Osman Hadi, from today onwards, each of us is Osman Hadi.” Our voices will be raised on the streets against Awami fascism and Indian hegemony. We will also be martyred on the streets.
The students said, “This country should run according to the will of the people of Dhaka, not on the orders of Delhi or Pindi.” There will be no central hegemony or slavery of Delhi in this country.
In addition, protests were also held on the Dhaka University campus after the news of Hadi’s death reached Singapore on Thursday night. Students who brought processions from various halls then demonstrated in front of the TSC under the banner of Students Against Hegemony.
On Thursday night, around 11 pm, NCP leaders and activists blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the Collegegate area of ​​Tongi, Gazipur. This caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway. At that time, NCP leaders and activists demanded a fair investigation into Hadi’s death and effective action against those responsible. Meanwhile, a group of youths took a stand in front of the Indian Assistant High Commission office in Chittagong to protest the killing of Osman Hadi. They took a stand in front of the office in the city’s Khulshi area around 10:45 pm on Thursday. On receiving the news, members of the city police took a stand there.
Eyewitnesses said that after the news of Hadi’s death was published in various media outlets, 20-25 people posing as students and public figures took a position in front of the Indian Assistant High Commission office at around 10:45 pm. At that time, they raised anti-Awami League and anti-India slogans in protest of Hadi’s killing. Later, police members arrived there and removed them. In Khulna, the procession towards the Indian Assistant High Commission office was also blocked by law enforcement forces.
In addition, a group of youths from the gate number 2 area of ​​​​Sholshahar in Chittagong after 11 pm went to the residence of Awami League-era Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel’s Chashma Hill residence under the banner of students and public figures. First, a motorcycle in front of the building was set on fire. Then, the angry people entered the house and committed extensive vandalism and arson.
Protesters have demolished the Awami League office in Rajshahi. When they went to vandalize the Indian Assistant High Commission office, the police and army lathi-charged and dispersed them.