Renewed turmoil in Bangladesh: Nationwide protests erupt following student leader's death, echoing 2024 uprising

Bangladesh is once again gripped by widespread unrest, with violent protests breaking out across the country nearly 18 months after the dramatic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The latest wave of demonstrations, sparked by the death of prominent youth activist Sharif Osman Hadi, has led to clashes with security forces, arson attacks on media outlets, and road blockades in major cities, including Dhaka, Chattogram, and Mymensingh.

The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has condemned the violence, attributing it to "fringe elements" and "terror", but it exposes deepening instability ahead of planned national elections in early 2026.

Spark: Death of Sharif Osman Hadi  

Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 student-led movement that toppled Hasina's long-standing Awami League government, succumbed to gunshot wounds on Thursday, December 18, after being attacked in Dhaka's Paltan area on December 12. He was airlifted to Singapore for treatment but passed away, triggering immediate outrage among supporters who accuse remnants of the old regime or unidentified assailants of orchestrating the killing. Protesters, many from student groups and pro-democracy activists, have taken to the streets demanding justice, chanting slogans like "Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar" and blocking key intersections such as Shahbagh in Dhaka.  

By Friday morning, violence had escalated: mobs set fire to the offices of prominent newspapers like Daily Prothom Alo and a private TV station, injuring journalists and prompting rescues by authorities. In one incident, around 200 demonstrators clashed with police, leading to arson and vandalism. 

Anti-India sentiments have surfaced, too, with some crowds raising slogans against perceived Indian interference, amid reports of involvement by groups like the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), whose leader, Jasimuddin Rahmani, was released under the Yunus administration.  

The Yunus government expressed "deep sorrow" over the "terror" and urged calm. At the same time, opposition figures from the exiled Awami League blamed the interim regime for failing to maintain law and order. Security forces have been deployed in force, but reports indicate at least a dozen injuries so far, with fears of further escalation as Hadi's body is repatriated for burial. This comes against a backdrop of economic challenges, including inflation and garment sector strikes, which have fueled public discontent since Hasina's fall.

Echoes of 2024: Cycle of instability  

The 2024 uprising, initially driven by quota reforms in government jobs, evolved into a broader anti-government movement that forced Hasina to flee to India after weeks of deadly protests, claiming over 300 lives. The interim government under Yunus was installed to restore order and prepare for elections, but it has struggled with political polarisation, corruption probes targeting Hasina allies, and rising Islamist influences.  

Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes reminiscent of 2024: roadblocks, burning vehicles, and attacks on symbols of the former regime, including the Dhanmondi 32 residence of Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. International observers, including the US Embassy in Dhaka, have mourned Hadi's death and called for restraint, while India has raised concerns over anti-India rhetoric amid border tensions. Analysts warn that without swift accountability, the protests could spiral, delaying elections and exacerbating economic woes in a nation still recovering from the 2024 turmoil.

Persecution of Hindu minorities amid chaos  

Beneath the veneer of anti-government protests, a disturbing pattern of targeted violence against Bangladesh's Hindu minority—comprising about 8-10% of the population—has intensified, often disguised as political unrest. Since Hasina's ouster, Hindus have reported systematic persecution, including vandalism of temples, land grabs, and physical assaults, with extremists exploiting the instability to settle scores or seize property.  

A stark example emerged this week: Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker in Mymensingh, was lynched by a mob over an alleged blasphemy accusation. His body was hung from a tree and set on fire, an act condemned by human rights groups as a hate crime. Witnesses and X posts describe the attack as part of broader anti-Hindu sentiment fueled by Islamist elements within the protests. Similar incidents have been documented throughout 2025, including harassment and vandalism against Hindu households and places of worship, as noted in a U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) factsheet.  

Human rights organisations, such as Open Doors International, highlight that ethnic and religious minorities face "persistent" oppression, with local leaders enforcing norms that marginalise non-Muslims. The UK Parliament discussed attacks on the Hindu community in December 2024, urging an end to violence on religious grounds. India's Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly raised the issue, calling for the protection of minorities and addressing "systematic persecution" of Hindus, including temple attacks.  

Advocates argue that the Yunus government has not done enough to curb these acts, with some incidents linked to released extremists like those from ABT. Hindus, whose population has dwindled from 20% in 1947 to under 10% today due to historical migrations and violence, fear a repeat of past pogroms. Calls for an independent tribunal and a minority protection ministry have grown, but amid the protests, these demands risk being overshadowed.

Calls for calm  

As Bangladesh teeters on the edge of another crisis, regional stability is at stake. Neighbouring India has expressed alarm over anti-India protests and minority safety, while global bodies like the UN monitor the situation closely. The Yunus administration has promised investigations into Hadi's death and the violence, but with elections looming, the protests could either force reforms or deepen divisions.  

For now, Dhaka's streets remain tense, a stark reminder that the wounds of 2024 have yet to heal. As one protester told Al Jazeera, "This is about justice—not just for Hadi, but for the future of Bangladesh."