Sharif Usman Hadi, a leader who played an important role in the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement in Bangladesh and was famous for his sharp statements against India, died late on Thursday night. Inquilab Manch convener Hadi was undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot last week.
Hadi was attacked on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka. Singapore's Foreign Ministry confirmed Hadi's death in a statement. Violence broke out in Bangladesh after the news of Hadi's death broke late Thursday night. The offices of the country's largest newspaper Pratham Aalo and another major newspaper Daily Star have been set on fire. The office of the Indian Mission in Chittagong has been pelted with stones.
Inquilab Manch confirmed his death on Thursday. Party leader and Liberation War Affairs Secretary of Dhaka University Central Students Union Fatima Tasneem Juma described Hadi as a martyr in a Facebook post. As soon as the news of Hadi's death was heard, thousands of people gathered in Shahbagh of Dhaka. During this, the protesters waved slogans and posters and accused the authorities of failing to protect Hadi. Within no time the protesters became violent.
Awami League office burnt
The protesters set fire to the office of the country's largest newspaper Pratham Aalo at Caravan Bazaar. After this, they gathered outside the office of leading media house Daily Star and pelted stones and set it on fire. Local media reports said that many people were trapped inside the offices of Pratham Alo and Daily Star. Protestors in Rajshahi set fire to the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's independence leader and Sheikh Hasina's father. The office of Awami League was also burnt.
Stone pelting at the house of Deputy High Commissioner of India
Following Hadi's death, protesters gathered outside the house of India's Deputy High Commissioner in Chittagong and pelted stones at the premises. During this, slogans were raised against Awami League and India. The protesters were raising slogans to end the Indian invasion and capture and kill the League members. Amidst the violence, the head of the interim government, Mohammad Yunus, has appealed to maintain peace and urged not to take the law into one's own hands.
Yunus declared national mourning
Mohammad Yunus has declared a day of national mourning over Hadi's death. Addressing the nation, Yunus said, today I have brought a very sad news before you. Sharif Usman Hadi, the fearless frontline warrior of the July Uprising and spokesperson of Inquilab Manch, is no more with us. Yunus called it a heinous murder and promised to catch the killers, saying those involved would not be spared.
Describing Hadi as a martyr, Yunus said, Hadi was an enemy of the defeated fascist terrorist forces. We will again defeat those who tried to suppress his voice and create fear among the revolutionaries. Along with this, Yunus also promised to take responsibility of Hadi's wife and only child. He has appealed to everyone to exercise patience and restraint. At present, the security situation remained extremely unstable in many parts of Dhaka till late night.
