Bangladesh Protests Erupt Outside Chief Adviser's Residence Amid Demands for Justice

Dhaka:Massive protests erupted outside the official residence of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Friday. The uproar reportedly comes amid several groups continuing to demand justice over youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi's death. This comes six days before Bangladesh witnesses its first election since the 2024 violence that had forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India. According to reports, the protestors gathered at Shaheed Minar in the morning and marched towards Yunus' official residence, Jamuna, calling for the immediate publication of a government gazette, the Ninth National Pay Scale, based on the pay commission’s recommendations, which proposed a restructure in the salaries of government employees. Members of the Bangladesh Government Officials and Employees Welfare Association were reportedly among those attending. Visuals of the escalated situation following the protests soon surfaced on social media. As the protestors crossed barricades, and marched towards the police in an attempt to reach the main advisory office near the Jamuna, the police tried to block them by setting up barricades, using water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades. Sharif Osman Hadi, who died on December 18, was a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina. Known for his anti-India rhetoric, Hadi was a spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha platform, and a candidate in the general elections who was shot in the head while launching his election campaign in Dhaka. His death had triggered a huge furore in Bangladesh, leading to protests in which several buildings in Dhaka, including those housing the country's two leading media houses, were set on fire.