Bangladesh Violence LIVE Updates: Body Of Sharif Osman Hadi Brought To Dhaka From Singapore

The US Embassy in Dhaka on Friday issued a security advisory for American citizens, referring to media reports about the arrival and funeral of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The advisory warned of possible traffic disruptions and unrest in the capital.

In a statement shared on X, the US Embassy in Dhaka said, “Media reports that the body of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi will land in Dhaka at 6:05 pm today, Friday, December 19.”

Members of the Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF), the youth wing of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), staged a protest outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala on Friday.

The protest was held in response to recent remarks made by Bangladeshi leaders regarding the Northeast region. Addressing the gathering, YTF president Suraj Debbarma said, “We are protesting today because for the last two to three days, Bangladeshi leaders have been making statements about the Northeast… We are responsible citizens of India, and it is our duty to protect our land and our country…”

Protesters raised slogans and demanded respect for India’s sovereignty, urging authorities to take note of the statements and respond appropriately.

Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, a former minister in the Hasina cabinet, has called the protests over the death of Osman Hadi a pattern, adding that “it is a state-sponsored activity.”

“It is a pattern, and they have gone to the Indian High Commission for reasons none of us are aware of. What does the Indian High Commission have to do with the Hadi incident? They wanted to shut it down…The government should have been tough on them. They have not only failed, but they have also instigated them. You see a pattern where the advisors of the current government are instigating from the top and then asking the police and the army to stand still when they run their street dramas,” he said.

The Bangladesh interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on Friday issued its first response to the ongoing unrest, urging people to resist acts of mob violence. It blamed a small group of fringe elements for the chaos.

It said it “strongly and unequivocally” condemns all forms of violence, intimidation, arson and destruction of property, warning that such actions threaten to derail the country’s democratic process.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, stressing the need to preserve stable and constructive relations between the two countries.

Reacting to the developments, Tharoor said he was “deeply disappointed” by the reports emerging from Bangladesh. He noted that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs had recently urged the Indian government to engage positively with Dhaka to ensure stability in bilateral ties.

Three major Bangladeshi media outlets, The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and The Business Standard, will not publish their Friday print editions amid the ongoing unrest in the country.

The offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were vandalised by protesters during the violence.

A crucial meeting is underway in Dhaka, chaired by Bangladesh Army Major General Jahangir Alam in his role as Home Adviser to the interim government.

Separately, the government has convened discussions with leaders who played key roles in the July protests.

Sharif Osman Hadi emerged as a prominent figure as convener of Inqilab Mancha, gaining attention for his outspoken criticism of both the Awami League and political forces seen as aligned with India.

His combative rhetoric earned him a strong following as well as sharp opposition. Bangladeshi media reports say he had recently shared a map depicting a proposed “Greater Bangladesh” that included areas of India’s northeastern region. READ MORE

The residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32, which had previously been demolished twice, was once again vandalised and set ablaze amid the unrest.

Separately, at around 11:15 pm, the home of former Chittagong mayor Mohiuddin was also torched, while the Awami League’s party office in Rajshahi was reported to have been demolished.

Dhaka University students and supporters of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Osman Hadi staged a sit-in at Shahbagh, calling for accountability in his killing.

The demonstration was joined by members of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and other campus-based student organisations, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

The offices of leading Bangladeshi newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were completely gutted in overnight attacks, forcing both publications to suspend operations for the day.

Army units and fire service personnel were deployed to rescue journalists trapped inside The Daily Star building, where around 30 staff members were stranded; all were later safely evacuated.