Bangladesh Unrest Intensifies as Angry Mobs Target Media Offices Following Death of Student Leader:

A renewed wave of violent unrest has gripped the capital city of Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh after the death of prominent student leader Sharif Osman Hadi on Thursday evening in Singapore. Hadi who was a key figure in the Inqilab Mancha platform and the July uprising died from gunshot injuries he sustained earlier this week while campaigning in the Vijayanagar area. His death acted as a catalyst for widespread outrage leading furious mobs to target major media establishments in Dhaka on late Thursday and early Friday. The situation deteriorated rapidly when groups of protesters stormed the offices of the countrys leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star located in the busy Karwan Bazar district. Eyewitnesses reported that the mobs vandalized the lower floors of the buildings before setting them ablaze which trapped numerous journalists and staff members inside the smoke filled premises.

The chaos extended beyond the newspaper offices as the rioters also targeted the Dhanmondi residence of the countrys founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the esteemed cultural organization Chhayanaut. The violence appears to be driven by accusations that these media outlets and institutions were biased against the student movement or had alleged foreign links. Journalists caught in the siege described terrifying scenes with one reporter posting on social media that she could not breathe due to the thick smoke engulfing the newsroom. The fire service and army personnel eventually managed to rescue the trapped employees but the infrastructure of both media houses suffered extensive damage forcing them to suspend their print editions for Friday. This attack on the press has drawn sharp condemnation from rights groups who termed it a dark day for independent journalism in the country.

The Interim Government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus moved swiftly to address the crisis by declaring a state of mourning and promising that the perpetrators behind Hadis murder would be brought to justice.[5] In a televised address Yunus urged citizens to maintain peace and warned against those trying to destabilize the nation ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 2026. Despite the assurance of security the atmosphere in Dhaka remains tense with journalists fearing for their safety amid an environment of hostility and censorship. The police have registered cases against unidentified attackers while heavy security has been deployed around sensitive zones including foreign missions and media hubs. As the body of Sharif Osman Hadi arrives in Dhaka for burial the government faces a stern test to restore law and order and protect the countrys democratic institutions from further mob

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