‘Sheikh Hasina Is Worried’: Ex-Ministers Blame Yunus, His Cabinet For Chaos Over Hadi Death

Last Updated:December 19, 2025, 15:26 IST

Tension gripped Bangladesh on Friday after the death of prominent July Uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi triggered protests, violence and vandalism in various parts of the country

Violence broke out in Bangladesh after the death of radical student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. (Reuters)

Blaming the Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus-led interim government for the current unrest in Bangladesh, former ministers of Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet said she was worried about the situation.

Tension gripped Bangladesh on Friday after the death of prominent July Uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi triggered protests, violence and vandalism in various parts of the country. While no incidents of violence were reported in the morning, protesters were seen vandalising the already demolished structure of 32 Dhanmandi, the home of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Various parts of the country were rocked Thursday night by attacks and vandalism, including stone-hurling at the Assistant Indian High Commissioner’s residence in Chattogram, after Yunus confirmed Inquilab Mancha leader Hadi’s death in a televised address to the nation.

A member of Yunus cabinet to blame: Mahibul Hasan Choudhury

Mahibul Hasan Choudhury, former State Minister in Sheikh Hasina’s Cabinet, blamed a “member of Muhammad Yunus cabinet" for the current unrest in Bangladesh.

“Last night, some members of the interim government and Citizen Party (NCP) called for war with progressive forces on the Hadi assassination issue. They attacked the Indian High Commission building. It was instigated by this regime. Yunus called for peace, but a key member of his cabinet, who now resigned publicly, called for dead bodies," said Choudhury.

“Mr Mahfuz of Yunus team had asked for dead bodies. I spoke to other Indian deputy High Commission from Chittagong, they said the police did not help…As election time is approaching, they believe they will loose…That is why they are creating instability."

Sheikh Hasina is worried: Mohammad A Arafat

Mohammad A Arafat, former Information Minister of Bangladesh, in an exclusive conversation with News18 said, “Sheikh Hasina is worried and she is observing what’s happening there. The situation right now is nothing different from what it was in the beginning. You saw mob violence all over."

“There is no law and order in the country. Extremists are killing people. There is an attack on academics, cultural activists. They attacked the cultural centre of Bangladesh. They attacked the house of Mahibul’s father’s, the late ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury. This has been happening for the past two years, yesterday was nothing new," he said.

“They are targeting liberals. They are against anything that represents secular political values.

Yunus is backing this group. The voices against radicals are attacked. With the killing of Hadi , they started attack on India…India has always supported us…Hasina is saddened…Without her, the situation of Bangladesh will remain like this."

“Even Bangla newspapers Prothom Alo and Daily Star who were against Awami are attacked. There is no space for minorities in Bangladesh. Even critics of Awami league are attacked now. Pro-Pakistan elements are strong now," he said.

The Bangladesh crisis

Hadi, a candidate in the scheduled February 12 general elections, died while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital after fighting for his life for six days. He was shot in the head last week by masked gunmen as he initiated his election campaign at central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area.

In his address on Thursday, Yunus vowed to bring those involved in Hadi’s brutal murder to justice quickly, saying, “No leniency will be shown" to the killers.

“I sincerely call upon all citizens – keep your patience and restraint," he said.

The chief adviser declared a one-day state mourning on Saturday, and said special prayers seeking forgiveness for Hadi’s soul will be organised in every mosque across the country after Friday prayers.

“No one can stop the democratic progress of this country through threat, terrorist activities or bloodshed," he said, adding that the responsibility of realising Hadi’s dream lies on the shoulders of the entire nation.

Protesters on Thursday took to the streets and attacked offices of leading newspapers, vandalised 32 Dhanmandi with hammers, and also demolished an office of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s disbanded Awami League party in Rajshahi city.

Regarded as the centre point of Bangladesh’s pre-independence struggle for autonomy for decades, 32 Dhanmandi was largely demolished with excavators on February 5 this year, while it was set on fire soon after the August 5, 2024, fall of the then Awami League government.

Protesters also hurled bricks and stones at the residence the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram at 1:30 am, but failed to cause any damage.

Police responded with tear gas and baton charges, dispersing the crowd and detaining 12 protesters. A few injuries were also reported.

Senior officials assured the assistant high commissioner of enhanced security.

Last night, the Citizen Party (NCP), a large offshoot of Students against Discrimination (SAD) that led last year’s violent protest — dubbed the July Uprising, which ousted the Hasina-led government — joined a mourning procession on the Dhaka University campus.

Supporters of the group chanted anti-India slogans alleging that Hadi’s assailants fled to India after committing the murder. They called upon the interim government to close the Indian high commission until they were returned.

Critically ill former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh ist Party (BNP) strongly condemned the vandalism and said that the Yunus-led interim government will have to shoulder its responsibility.

News world ‘Sheikh Hasina Is Worried’: Ex-Ministers Blame Yunus, His Cabinet For Chaos Over Hadi Death

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