Dhaka. There were violent clashes between police and protesters in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, in which about 40-50 people were injured. On Friday, thousands of protesters tried to storm the official residence of Mohammad Yunus. The unrest has increased just six days before the general elections in Bangladesh. Local media reports suggest that Inquilab Manch had organized the protest demanding justice for student leader Usman Sharif Hadi.
Let us tell you that Hadi was shot in the Paltan area of Dhaka on 12 December 2025, when he was campaigning. Three days later, Hadi was airlifted to Singapore, but he died. After Hadi’s death, a series of violent incidents started in Bangladesh. Inquilab Manch had organized a demonstration at Shahbagh intersection on Friday demanding justice for Hadi. The protesters were demanding a UN-monitored investigation into the killing. When the protesters tried to move towards Jamuna, the official residence of Mohammad Yunus, they were stopped by the police. Authorities used lathi charge, water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd. This clash took place just a week before the elections to be held on February 12. Dhaka Tribune report shows that around 50 people were taken to hospital after these clashes.
Following the crackdown by security forces on protests, the interim government issued a statement and reiterated its promise to ensure justice in the case of Hadi’s murder. Yunus’ press secretary Shafiqul Alam said the government would ask the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take charge of investigating Hadi’s murder. He said the security personnel did not fire a single bullet during the protest march. The situation worsened when the protesters tried to break the police barricade and move towards the Jamuna, the statement said. The protesters mounted water cannons, following which security agencies had to intervene to bring the situation under control.
