Our immediate neighbour Bangladesh continues to burn even though the Muslim majority nation looks for a general election early next year. Soon after the news broke of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi’s demise in Singapore during treatment on 18 December 2025, Dhaka started witnessing mass gathering in different locations. Even though Hadi was not a top leader and came to public notice only after last year’s mass uprising against Sheikh Hasina government, his murder was condemned by everyone. From the caretaker regime head Professor Muhammad Yunus to opposition political party leaders along with other Islamic preachers mourned at his untimely demise. He emerged as a firebrand radical speaker and maintained his anti-Hasina statements till his final days in Dhaka.
The violent protesters even targeted Hasina’s Awami League leaders and soon it turned out to be a massive anti-India wave spread across the south Asian country. The demonstrators raised slogans against New Delhi, blaming it for giving shelter to Hadi’s suspected killers besides Hasina and many other her party men. Amid the chaotic situation, a Hindu youth named Dipu Chandra Das was brutally murdered by an angry mob alleging unfounded disrespectful comments against their religion. Meanwhile, the country’s next parliamentary polls are scheduled for 12 February next where Hasina’s party cannot participate. Bangladesh President Md Sahabuddin may also resign soon after the polls and probably Yunus will move to Bangabhawan with consensus from all political parties by March 2026.
Bangladesh also witnessed the murder of a digital journalist Imdadul Haque Milon (45) and attacks on two newspaper-offices (Prothom Alo and The Daily Star) in the capital city. Milon, who used to work for online news portal Bartaman Somoy was targeted by four motorcycle-born armed men at Shalua market on 18 December evening. Seriously injured Milon was rushed to Khulna medical college hospital, where the Shalua Press Club office bearer was declared brought dead by the attending doctors. He is the 163rd journo-victims globally and the fifth media casualty in Bangladesh after Assaduzzaman Tuhin, Bibhuranjan Sarkar, Wahed-uz-Zaman Bulu and Khandahar Shah Alam till date this year.
Expressing serious concern over the current volatile situation in Bangladesh, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) urges the caretaker government in Dhaka to ensure safety & security to the media professionals there. The PEC condemned the murder of Milon and midnight vandalism and arson attacks carried out on Dhaka-based prominent Bengali daily Prothom Alo and acclaimed English newspaper The Daily Star. Both the dailies even couldn’t publish the next day’s morning editions, said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC, adding that it should be termed as an assault on freedom of the press, which needs to be protected by the authorities. Lempen also slammed the physical abuse against New Age editor Nurul Kabir, who along with some media professionals tried to prevent the vandals against the dailies.
When a burning neighbour looks for general election
