THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 19: The situation in Bangladesh is deteriorating rapidly, with violence spreading across the country following reports of the death of young leader Usman Hadi. Hadi was shot in the head on December 12, and news of his death triggered widespread unrest.
The Yunus government has declared Saturday a state mourning day in Usman Hadi’s honour and appealed for calm, but the call has had little impact on the ground. Incidents of arson, vandalism and killings continue unabated, with fires being set at multiple locations under the cover of darkness.
Protesters are demanding that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be sent back from India. Sheikh Hasina, who has been forced into exile, is currently staying in India.
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Meanwhile, in Mymensingh district, a Hindu youth was allegedly beaten to death and set on fire by a mob on Thursday night over accusations of blasphemy. According to BBC Bangla, the victim was identified as Dipu Chandra Das, an employee of a garment factory.
Reports say arson attacks are being carried out at several places amid religious slogans. Enraged protesters allegedly torched the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Following the attacks, several journalists were trapped inside newsrooms for nearly three hours.
According to AFP, citing the fire service, the blaze at The Daily Star building has been brought under control. Police managed to rescue journalists who were trapped inside their offices during the arson attacks after considerable effort.
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Protesters have accused these newspapers of colluding with India. Violence has also erupted in the area housing the ancestral home of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bengali daily The Daily Ittefaq shared a video showing protesters chanting “Allahu Akbar” while setting properties on fire. In Chattogram’s Sholashahar area, protesters vandalised and torched the residence of Awami League leader and former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel.
