Anarchy in Dhaka: Assassination Unleashes Mob Violence as Bangladesh's Government Stands By

The assassination of a rising political figure, Sharif Osman Hadi, has plunged Bangladesh's capital into chaos. But the riots that erupted following his death on December 18 weren't the most alarming part. As organized mobs burned down media offices with journalists trapped inside, the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and its security forces conspicuously failed to act, revealing a profound crisis of state responsibility and pushing the nation towards anarchy.

A Predictable Inferno, An Inactive State

The violence was neither spontaneous nor sudden. According to observers, it was the expected culmination of months of rising tension. Right-wing groups, including Chhatra Shibir—the student wing of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI)—had openly called for the shutdown of the targeted newspapers. Their plans to attack were reportedly an "open secret," yet the government took no preventative measures.

Even after attackers set the Prothom Alo building ablaze, they were allowed to march unimpeded to the Daily Star office. Journalists were forced to shelter on the roof for hours as the mob below blocked the army, police, and fire services from entering. Security forces, eyewitnesses said, appeared to be mere spectators.

Selective Inaction and Political Calculation

Critics argue the interim government's inaction isn't a sign of incapacity, but a conscious political choice. The Yunus administration has demonstrated it can act decisively when it wants to, particularly against its critics. Respected journalist Anis Alamgir was recently arrested under anti-terrorism laws for criticizing the government. Meanwhile, leftist protestors and teachers pressing for legitimate demands have been brutally dispersed by police.

This stark contrast—swift action against dissidents versus passivity towards violent mobs—leads to an unsettling conclusion: the interim government appears to have deliberately chosen not to intervene. This absence of punishment has normalized violence and sent a clear message: the state will not protect media and cultural institutions from its political allies. If crimes go unpunished, violence becomes the norm.

The crisis in Bangladesh transcends a simple breakdown of law and order; it's spiraling into a crisis of state legitimacy. Allowing such violence to go unchecked may offer short-term political advantages for certain factions, but it guarantees the long-term erosion of the rule of law and public trust. This instability has a direct effect on regional security in South Asia. A state that watches a media building burn with journalists inside loses the moral authority to govern.

Questions also swirl around Hadi's assassination itself. The killers, who struck in broad daylight, remain at large. Allegations have surfaced that the assassins escaped to India, but the government has reportedly not issued a request for cooperation or even alerted its border guards. This lack of interest suggests the government may not want the assassins found. Hadi's death and the ensuing violence stand as a damning indictment of the Bangladeshi state's failure.