• Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader in Bangladesh's youth movement, died after being shot in an assassination attempt.
• His death has triggered violent protests in Dhaka, resulting in arson and clashes with police.
• Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus condemned the attack, labeling it a threat to democracy.
• Authorities have launched a manhunt for the assailants, offering rewards for information.
• Hadi was a candidate in the upcoming elections, making his assassination politically significant.

Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader of Bangladesh's 2024 pro-democracy uprising, died in Singapore after succumbing to injuries from an assassination attempt. Hadi was shot by masked assailants on December 12 while leaving a mosque in Dhaka and was later airlifted for emergency treatment, where he fought for his life for several days. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his death, stating, "Despite the best efforts of the doctors, Mr Hadi succumbed to his injuries," as the country prepares to assist in repatriating his body back to Bangladesh after his passing on December 18, 2025, according to Indiatimes and Al Jazeera.

Following the announcement of Hadi's death, thousands of his supporters poured into the streets of Dhaka, demanding the arrest of his killers. Reports indicated widespread violence, including the burning of buildings associated with major newspapers such as the Daily Star and Prothom Alo, which protestors accused of being sympathetic to exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As the civil unrest escalated, police were forced to deploy tear gas to disperse crowds and control the violence, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.

Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressed his condolences and emphasized that "the country’s march toward democracy cannot be halted through fear, terror, or bloodshed." Yunus criticized the premeditated nature of the attack, suggesting a conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the upcoming elections scheduled for February 2026, according to Channel News Asia and Le Monde.

Bangladeshi police have initiated a manhunt for Hadi's attackers, offering a reward of 5 million taka (approximately $42,000) for information leading to their capture. Several arrests have already been made pertaining to the incident as investigations continue into the factors surrounding Hadi’s shooting, according to Indiatimes and Al Jazeera.