Bangladesh was gripped by a new wave of unrest over the past 10 hours as street protests escalated into vandalism, arson, and attacks on diplomatic, cultural, and media-related targets, deepening fears of a widening law-and-order breakdown under the Muhammad Yunus–led interim government.
The immediate flashpoint was the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader associated with the post-2024 protest movement, who died in Singapore days after being shot. Within hours, demonstrations spread rapidly across Dhaka and beyond, with protesters—many chanting “Allahu Akbar,” according to witnesses—blocking key roads, marching in large groups, and attacking symbolic targets linked to the press, politics, culture, and foreign missions.
Media houses stormed in Dhaka
In Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area, crowds attacked the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, two of Bangladesh’s most influential newspapers. Witnesses and local reports described smashed glass, ransacked office floors, and piles of documents and furniture dragged outside and set on fire.
At The Daily Star building, a fire broke out inside the premises, with reports that some staff members were temporarily trapped as smoke spread. Fire service units later brought the blaze under control, and rescue efforts were carried out.
Journalists and civil society voices said the attacks were not merely acts of vandalism but a direct attempt to intimidate the press and shape public narratives through fear.
Witnesses and victims alleged that law enforcement agencies were not seen intervening while the vandalism unfolded, even as the attacks were broadcast live on social media. Military personnel were seen arriving at the sites, but multiple witnesses said they largely stood by without taking action.
Dhanmondi: Attacks on Bangabandhu Museum and Chhayanaut building
The violence also spread to Dhanmondi, where attackers again targeted sites closely associated with Bangladesh’s history and cultural identity.
On Thursday, mobs attacked and set fire to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32, the historic residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which has previously been targeted during periods of unrest.
At the same time, the attackers vandalized and set fire to the Chhayanaut building in Dhanmondi, a major cultural institution.
Mithun Singh, duty officer at Dhanmondi Police Station, told The Voice:
“An agitated crowd carried out vandalism at the Chhayanaut building. Police went to the scene and brought the situation under control.”
Witnesses said the attackers were chanting “Allahu Akbar” during the assaults.
Founded as a leading cultural movement organization in Bangladesh, Chhayanaut is known for providing institutional education in music, dance, and other branches of culture. Because of its role in promoting secular Bengali culture, Chhayanaut has long been viewed by several Islamist political parties and groups as anti-Islamic, making it a recurrent target during periods of ideological agitation.
Protest blockades and street mobilization in the capital
Protests also hit major points in Dhaka, including Shahbagh, where crowds blocked roads after news of Hadi’s death spread. Student groups and supporters held marches and rallies, and the protest momentum quickly spilled beyond the capital through campus networks and local mobilization.
In the tense hours after midnight, the interim authorities issued appeals for calm. Critics, however, said the state’s response once again appeared reactive, inconsistent, and politically selective—forceful against targeted opponents, but weak in confronting organized street violence.
Chattogram: Attack near India’s diplomatic residence
Outside Dhaka, unrest turned toward diplomatic targets. In Chattogram, protesters attacked the residence of India’s assistant high commissioner, according to police officials. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowd, and the army was deployed as tensions escalated.
The violence followed days of rising anti-India agitation linked to claims that suspects connected to the earlier shooting had fled across the border—claims that have fueled street anger and heightened diplomatic strain.
Mymensingh: Hindu youth beaten to death
In a separate but equally disturbing incident, a young follower of the Sanatan Hindu faith was beaten to death in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, by members of a group identifying themselves as Tawhidi Janata, over allegations of religious insult.
Police said the incident occurred Thursday night in the Dubalia area near Square Master Bari. Eyewitnesses reported that after severely beating the victim, the mob tied him to a tree and set his body on fire.
Ripon Mia, duty officer at Bhaluka Police Station, told The Voice:
“After beating him to death, the mob tied the body to a tree and set it ablaze.”
Police identified the victim as Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker who lived in the area as a tenant.
Ripon Mia added:
“Around 9 p.m., a group of enraged locals attacked him after he allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Prophet. After beating him, they set the body on fire.”
Police later brought the situation under control and sent the body to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for autopsy. As of reporting time, no case had been filed. Police said legal action would proceed once relatives come forward.
Unrest spreads to other cities
Protests were also reported in Rajshahi and Cumilla, with demonstrations on campuses and in public areas. In Rajshahi, protesters vandalized an Awami League office, while several highways were blocked, adding economic disruption to the political crisis.
A deeper pattern under interim rule
The past 10 hours of violence sit within a broader trajectory since August 2024, when Bangladesh shifted into interim rule after the elected government was forced out. Rights groups and journalists have repeatedly described a climate of intimidation, selective law enforcement, and shrinking civic space.
Critics argue that while the interim authorities promise reform and stability, street power continues to dictate events. Political opponents face raids and mass arrests, while violent mobs attacking institutions often encounter delayed or minimal resistance.
This is why attacks on newsrooms, cultural institutions, and historic sites carry such weight. When crowds can vandalize major media houses, cultural landmarks, and national heritage sites in the capital with impunity, the message is stark: dissenting voices and plural identities are vulnerable, and state protection is uncertain.
What comes next
By early morning, fires in Dhaka were reportedly contained and security deployments expanded. But the political aftershocks are expected to continue.
Three questions now dominate public debate:
- Who organized and coordinated the attacks across locations?
- Why did security forces fail to prevent arson and vandalism in high-security areas?
- Will investigations lead to real accountability, including for any political patrons?
For many Bangladeshis—especially minorities, journalists, cultural workers, and politically targeted communities—the fear is that the state is drifting toward a model where mobs set the agenda and institutions absorb the damage.
