Clashes have flared up in the nation following the demise of a prominent figure from the student-led movement that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sharif Osman Hadi was gunned down by assailants in masks while departing from a place of worship in the capital last week and died from his injuries on a recent day while receiving treatment in a foreign hospital.
The incident came just a day after officials announced a schedule for the inaugural polls since the 2024 uprising, which Hadi had been intending to run in as an independent candidate.
Demonstrations Descend into Chaos
As news of his death emerged on Thursday, a large crowd of his followers gathered in a square in the capital, Dhaka to demonstrate.
Later on, protesters damaged the premises of prominent Bangladeshi publications two major dailies, with one building reportedly torched.
"Many individuals have gathered here and carried out the incident," a police officer reported.
Security forces were sent to the location, while emergency crews rescued media personnel trapped inside the affected office.
Calls for Justice
The 32-year-old activist, was a key figure of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha and an vocal opponent of neighbouring India, where the former prime minister continues her self-imposed exile.
Various factions have lamented the loss and urged the transitional authority to ensure those responsible face trial.
Peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who chairs the interim administration, described Hadi's death "an irreparable loss for the people".
"The country's march toward a democratic system must not be derailed through fear, terror, or bloodshed," he said in a national address on Thursday.
The administration declared a day of national mourning on the upcoming weekend.
Election Concerns Raised
Soon after Hadi was attacked, Yunus asserted it was a calculated act and "the goal of the those behind it is to derail the electoral process".
"No form of violence intended to interfere with the polls must be condemned," he added. "This development is a worrying development for the political environment."
Investigations are ongoing and several people have been taken into custody in link with the attack.
Background: Hasina's Exit and Sentence
The former prime minister went into exile in the neighboring country on following the protests, after weeks of youth-driven demonstrations, ending 15 years of strongman politics.
In November, she was handed a capital punishment for crimes against humanity after being found guilty of allowing lethal force to be used against protesters, many of whom died during the protests.
