ISLAMABAD: The killing of a Bangladeshi activist known for his outspoken criticism of India has sparked nationwide protests across Bangladesh and heightened political tensions, as authorities launched a manhunt for those responsible, according to Indian media reports.
Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was a vocal opponent of India, where Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge since fleeing Dhaka following the 2024 uprising. His death has triggered unrest across Bangladesh, with demonstrators demanding swift arrests and accountability.
Iqbal Hossain Saikot, a government employee who traveled to the capital to attend Hadi’s funeral, said he believed the killing was linked to Hadi’s political stance. “The millions of Bangladeshi people who love the land and its sovereign territory will carry on Hadi’s legacy,” Saikot said.
Police in Bangladesh said they had launched a manhunt for the attackers but had not reported any breakthroughs by Tuesday.
The incident has intensified anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, spilling over into protests in neighboring India. On Monday, leaders from Indian opposition parties and members of the Congress party staged demonstrations outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.
According to local Indian media reports, protests continued on Tuesday in India’s capital, New Delhi, where Hindutva activists gathered outside the Bangladesh High Commission. The report said Hindutva organizations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, called the demonstrations.
Protesters clashed with police after being barred from entering the diplomatic mission. Effigies of Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, were burned on the road during the unrest, according to Indian media reports.
Ties between neighbors Bangladesh and India have deteriorated since the uprising, with Dhaka demanding New Delhi extradite Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death in absentia after being charged with crimes against humanity.
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