A wave of anger swept across Rajshahi late on Thursday night, culminating in the demolition of the city’s Awami League office by enraged protesters demanding justice for Sharif Osman Hadi, the convenor of the Inquilab Manch. The protest, which lasted from around 12:30 a.m. until 4 a.m. on Friday, saw a combination of students, political activists, and local citizens converge on the city centre.
The unrest was triggered by Hadi’s death, which opponents of the ruling party have attributed to political violence. Students and activists quickly mobilised from Rajshahi University and other central points, including Zero Point in Saheb Bazar, forming a march that eventually reached Kumarpara, where the Awami League’s city office is located.
During the protest, demonstrators carried banners and shouted slogans targeting both local political authorities and broader geopolitical issues. Slogans included “Bring down the Awami League stronghold,” “Hadi’s killers must be punished now,” and “Stop imperialist interference,” reflecting a blend of local grievance and anti-establishment sentiment.
The night’s actions were partly organised via social media, with posts urging citizens to join and take direct action. At around 9:30 p.m., Salauddin Amma, a student leader from the central student council, posted a message encouraging people to mobilise and confront what he described as “Awami fascism and Indian domination.” He even called for bulldozers to be brought to the scene, signalling the scale and intensity of the protest.
By late evening, protesters had gathered at Zero Point and then moved towards the Awami League office. Students from various university halls joined the march, turning a city-wide demonstration into a concentrated operation against the political establishment.
When the protesters arrived at the office, bulldozers were used to breach the building. Walls crumbled, and the office was rendered unusable within hours. Police were reportedly present but did not engage heavily with the demonstrators, who focused exclusively on the physical demolition of the office.
The events of Thursday night have drawn widespread attention, reflecting ongoing political tensions in Rajshahi and the power of organised student activism. Observers suggest that such direct action, while extreme, illustrates the deep frustration felt by segments of the population over unresolved political grievances.