'Have set really bad example': Bangladeshi scribe slams violence after Osman Hadi's death; flags security lapses before polls

A senior Bangladeshi journalist strongly criticised the violence that erupted in parts of Bangladesh following the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Osman Hadi, saying the unrest reflects the serious lapses in law and order and sent a troubling signal ahead of the national election.Speaking to ANI, Dhaka Tribune editor Reaz Ahmad said while public anger and grief over Hadi’s killing were understandable, elements within the crowds exploited the situation to trigger violence. “Taking that as an excuse, some fringe elements within the massive crowd expressing their grief and sympathies turned extremely violent,” he said, adding that the state should not tolerate such acts.Osman Hadi, a young political activist linked to last year’s July uprising, was shot by masked men on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area.

He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was later airlifted to Singapore for medical treatment. He died on December 18 despite doctors’ efforts. Following his death, protests erupted across the capital as supporters demanded justice. Multiple demonstrations were reported on Friday, coinciding with the arrival of Hadi’s body in Dhaka. While several gatherings remained peaceful, some turned violent, with several media houses' offices set ablaze and attacks on cultural institutions.

Ahmad said the unrest could have been avoided with better planning by authorities. “The government would have done a better job had there been pre-emptive measures; we could definitely avoid such developments,” he told ANI, calling the attacks on two leading newspapers and cultural offices “a really bad example” for the country. The violence drew condemnation from both within Bangladesh and abroad. Ahmad said denunciations alone were insufficient and urged the government to restore full control over the situation. “The state should not tolerate it… the government has to actually take the law and order situation under complete grip,” he said.Hadi’s funeral prayers were held on Saturday and attended by a large crowd. As per his family’s wishes, he was buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.With Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for February 12, Ahmad warned that attacks on media outlets at this stage could have wider implications.

He said such incidents risk creating fear among journalists and could affect press freedom during the election period.“Our election is just around the corner,” he said. “If such attacks are meant to actually infect fear among the free press advocates, to some extent the attackers thought that they had been successful.” He added that public support for free media must be reinforced by firm action from the government.Ahmad called on authorities to identify and punish those responsible for the violence, saying decisive action would help reassure journalists and ensure they can work freely in the run-up to the polls.