The death of a prominent Islamic radical has plunged Bangladesh into a state of severe unrest, with violent mobs rampaging through the capital Dhaka and other cities, targeting media houses, Indian diplomatic facilities, and the minority Hindu community.
Chaos Erupts After Radical Leader's Death
Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old known for his radical Islamist views and virulent anti-India stance, died on Thursday from injuries sustained in a shooting last week. Hadi was a key figure in the violent protests that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. His death instantly became a catalyst for widespread mayhem, raising serious questions about the interim government's control under administrator Muhammad Yunus.
Mobs Target Media, Diplomats, and Minorities
Enraged supporters took to the streets, setting fire to buildings including the offices of Bangladesh's leading newspapers, Daily Star and Prathom Alo. Journalists inside had a harrowing experience, trapped until police rescued them after urgent pleas to the interim government.
In a deeply alarming incident in Mymensingh, a mob set ablaze a 25-year-old Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, over alleged blasphemy. Simultaneously, protesters attempted to storm the residence of India's deputy high commissioner in Chittagong. Violence also flared in Rajshahi, where the Indian consulate had been attacked just days prior.
Government Response and Growing Radical Influence
The interim administration downplayed the pervasive lawlessness, describing the arson and vandalism as acts by "a few fringe elements." However, independent observers see the large-scale, coordinated violence as a sign of the growing influence and numbers of radicals in Bangladesh. The attacks on journalists, Hindus, and Indian facilities suggest these groups operate with a sense of immunity, amid perceived inability or unwillingness of law enforcement to restrain them.
The government has issued a statement saying it "strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties." Despite this, the events of Thursday night paint a picture of a nation grappling with intense internal strife and rising extremism.
