DHAKA: The death of Sharif Osman Hadi, an Islamic radical and well-known India-hater, plunged Bangladesh into anarchy with mobs rampaging through Dhaka and setting fire to buildings, including offices of the country’s biggest newspapers, and protesters seeking to storm the residence of India’s deputy high commissioner in Chittagong on Thursday night.Radicals seized control of streets in other parts and a mob set ablaze a Hindu man – 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das – in Mymensingh for alleged blasphemy. Violence also broke out in Rajshahi where the Indian consulate was attacked a couple of days ago. Journalists of Daily Star and Prathom Alo found themselves trapped when angry mobs torched their offices. They had a harrowing time before police, after multiple pleadings, including with senior functionaries of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt, came to their rescue.The govt appeared to downplay the pervasive lawlessness by describing the incidents of arson and vandalism as “mob violence committed by a few fringe elements”. To many independent observers the large-scale violence and targeting of journalists, Hindus and India’s diplomatic facilities marked the growing influence and numbers of radicals, the sense of immunity that they appear to have developed in recent months and law enforcement’s inability, perhaps even unwillingness, to rein them in.Hadi, 32, one of the key figures in the violent protests that led to the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina and her escape to India last year, was grievously injured after masked men shot at him at a rally last week. The interim govt flew him to Singapore for treatment. He succumbed to injuries at the Singapore hospital.News of his death instantly triggered the mayhem, putting a big question mark on interim administrator Yunus’s hold over the administration.The govt said it strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties.
