Youth Leader Hadi’s Death Sparks Hasina’s Warning Against Escalating Chaos and Extremism Nationwide

Advertisment

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly condemned the interim Government, headed by Nobel Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. She said that “our country is sliding towards chaos and Islamic extremism due to the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi and rising unrest in Bangladesh.”

Hasina Condemns Chaos, Violence After Hadi’s Death

In an interview last week with the ANI news agency, Sheikh Hasina said that the killing of Hadi on December 12 exemplified ‘lawlessness.’ Hadi was a prominent leader of last year’s youth uprising, which had forced her from power.

She added that lawlessness has increased in the country ever since, creating an atmosphere where violence has become normal. “India can see the chaos and the sufferings of minorities and the destruction of all that we accomplished together,” she said.

Advertisment

Hadi was also shot at point-blank range while commuting in the Dhaka suburb of Bijoynagar, later airlifted to Singapore for treatment, where he passed away on December 18. His death sparked violent protests, especially in the capital, with protesters torching the offices of the country’s major reporting newspapers.

Rising Tensions Between Dhaka and Delhi

There have been attacks on cultural institutions and anti-India protests, further adding to tension between the government and New Delhi, particularly as parliamentary elections draw closer in Bangladesh in February 2026. 

India has been alarmed by the state of security in Dhaka, going so far as to dismiss the Bangladeshi ambassador and halt operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre.

Advertisment

Hasina accused the Yunus government of emboldening radical Islamist elements, citing the release of convicted terrorist group members and the appointment of people with Islamist ties to positions of power. She also warned that the government might even lift the ban on the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami. 

Can the Interim Government Restore Peace Quickly?

While some members of the media expressed support for the temporary government, those critical of the interim government also complained about the violence that followed the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's presidency.

This violence has also been seen as evidence that there are grave issues with respect to security and governance. However, the temporary government is also calling for calm while investigating instances of violence, although it faces the difficult task of restoring order under highly polarized political conditions.

Advertisment