Bangladesh Feminist Archives expresses deep concern over the rapid collapse of law and order across Bangladesh following the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi on 18 December 2025. What has unfolded since is not a series of isolated incidents, but a pattern of coordinated mob violence that the state has failed to contain.
In the immediate aftermath of Hadi’s death, organised mobs—incited by online provocateurs including Elias Hossain—attacked two of the country’s most established media institutions, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Both offices were vandalised and set on fire, trapping journalists inside before they were later rescued. Reports indicate that printing facilities were also vandalised. During these attacks, Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, was harassed and publicly labelled an “Awami agent.” These were direct assaults on press freedom.
The violence soon expanded to cultural spaces. Chhayanaut, a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s cultural life, was vandalised and set on fire, echoing earlier attacks on institutions such as Udichi. These incidents point to a systematic targeting of culture, memory, and dissent.
At the same time, mobs attempted to vandalise the Indian High Commission office in Chattogram, while in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was beaten to death and his body burned following a false allegation of blasphemy. This public lynching underscores the lethal consequences of mob impunity and the erosion of legal process. Other acts of violence, including the torching of the home of a former education minister, further signal a nation in crisis.
Taken together, these events reveal a stark reality: Bangladesh is being destabilised in real time. Law enforcement has failed to protect lives, institutions, and fundamental rights, while online incitement continues unchecked.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives unequivocally condemns all forms of political violence, including vigilantism and mob justice. We demand immediate investigations into attacks on the media, legal action against those inciting violence online, and collective resistance from political parties, civil society, and rights groups. This violence must be stopped—now.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 