New Delhi: Bangladesh has once again erupted in violence, with offices and shops set ablaze. Security forces were also targeted with stones and bricks. The unrest stems from the death of Sharif Usmani, a key figure in the movement against former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a vocal critic of India, who died in Singapore on Thursday.
Following his death, protests erupted late at night in the capital, Dhaka. Crowds became enraged, and angry protesters attacked and vandalised the offices of Prothom Alo (the country’s largest Bengali newspaper) and The Daily Star, setting them on fire. Unruly protesters also torched the Awami League office in Rajshahi. This has significantly worsened the situation in Bangladesh.
Interim Government Calls Meeting
Following the outbreak of violence in Bangladeshi cities, the head of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, has called a meeting in Dhaka. Media reports indicate that thousands of people gathered at Shahbagh intersection after news of Usmani’s death in Singapore spread.
The angry crowd then blocked the intersection. Protesters waved placards and accused authorities of failing to protect Usmani.