Mass anger in Bangladesh after activist’s killing: protests rock Dhaka, Hindu homes torched in Pirojpur — diplomatic row with India deepens

Dhaka / Pirojpur / New Delhi, 29 December — A wave of street protests that began after the fatal shooting of student-activist Sharif Osman Hadi has swept across Bangladesh this month, triggering violent local incidents in which at least five houses belonging to Hindu families were torched in Dumritala village of Pirojpur district and prompting a sharp diplomatic exchange with India over allegations that suspects fled across the border.

The killing that ignited mass protests

Sharif Osman Hadi — a prominent local activist who had gathered a following among youth movements — was shot and later died of his wounds, sparking spontaneous demonstrations and organised marches in Dhaka and other cities.

Funeral processions and sit-ins quickly turned into large protests demanding swift, transparent investigations and immediate arrests.

Authorities moved additional security forces into key urban areas to control crowds and protect public order.

Communal violence: Hindu homes attacked and burnt

Within days of the unrest, reports emerged from Pirojpur district that mobs had attacked minority homes.

Local journalists and national outlets reported that five houses belonging to a Hindu family in Dumritala were set ablaze; video and eyewitness testimony circulated on social media showing flames consuming structures as neighbours fled.

Authorities say arrests have been made in connection with the arson as investigators seek to determine whether attacks were spontaneous reprisals, organised provocations, or motivated by other local disputes.

The violence has revived longstanding fears among Bangladesh’s Hindu minority about their safety during times of political upheaval.

Diplomatic friction with India

Bangladeshi police publicly alleged that the principal suspects in Hadi’s killing crossed into India (reported references named states such as Meghalaya).

Indian security agencies, including officials in Meghalaya and the Border Security Force (BSF), swiftly rejected those claims as unfounded, calling the allegations “misleading” and denying that suspected perpetrators are being sheltered on Indian soil.

The exchange produced an abrupt diplomatic flare-up and raised concern about cross-border cooperation at a moment of heightened regional sensitivity.

Political context and pressure on the interim administration

The unrest comes against a fraught political backdrop. Dr Muhammad Yunus — the Nobel laureate serving as head of the interim/caretaker administration — has faced growing criticism from several quarters.

Opponents and some protest leaders have accused elements of the interim structure of failing to protect citizens and of being insufficiently transparent in the handling of politically sensitive cases; the administration has denied involvement and emphasised that investigations are ongoing.

Analysts warn that the killing has exposed deep political fractures ahead of the general election scheduled for February.

On the ground: eyewitness accounts and human cost

Residents of Dumritala described how sudden crowds formed late at night and said the local police were initially overwhelmed.

“We woke to shouts and ran — the houses were already burning,” one resident told reporters. Injured people were taken to nearby clinics; property loss and trauma for affected families are severe.

Civil society groups and minority leaders have urged the government to provide shelter, compensation and swift justice for victims.

Human-rights advocates have warned that communal attacks in the wake of political killings risk spiralling into wider sectarian confrontations if not checked quickly.

Investigations and what the authorities say

Bangladesh police say investigations into Hadi’s killing are active and that forensic steps, witness interviews and CCTV reviews are underway.

In Pirojpur, police reported arrests linked to the arson attacks; investigators are working to establish motives and possible organisers.

Indian agencies have similarly said that their border surveillance was functioning and that any claim that suspects entered India must be proven with evidence and cross-border cooperation.

Diplomats from both capitals have said that channels remain open, even as the rhetoric has hardened in public statements.

Reactions — domestic and international

Political parties, student groups and religious organisations inside Bangladesh responded with demonstrations, statements and ultimatums demanding accountability.

Indian civil society groups and organisations from several Indian states, including the Northeast, issued protests and calls for protection of minorities; Indian authorities’ public denial of harbouring suspects has not fully quelled grassroots anger among sections of the Indian public.

International rights bodies and media outlets have urged restraint and independent investigations to prevent the situation from escalating.

Why this matters

The killing and the subsequent violence hit at core fault lines in Bangladesh: fragile trust in transitional institutions, the safety of religious minorities during political crises, and the fragility of cross-border relations in a densely interconnected region.

With national elections looming, analysts warn that handling of the case — and the authorities’ ability to prevent further communal incidents — will shape public confidence and regional diplomatic dynamics in the weeks ahead.

Timeline

• Mid-December: Sharif Osman Hadi is shot and dies of injuries. Mass protests commence in Dhaka and other cities.
• Within days, Video and reports of arson surface from Dumritala (Pirojpur); at least five Hindu homes are reported torched. Local arrests are reported.
• Same period: Bangladesh police allege suspects fled into India; Meghalaya authorities and Indian central agencies deny the claim and call for evidence.

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