Unrest has broken out in Bangladesh following the passing of a key figure from the student-led movement that toppled ex- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The activist, Sharif Osman Hadi was shot by masked attackers while leaving a mosque in the capital recently and died from his injuries on Thursday while receiving treatment in Singapore.
The attack occurred just a day after officials set a timeline for the inaugural polls following the mass protests, which the slain leader had been preparing to participate in as an independent candidate.
Demonstrations Descend into Chaos
Upon learning of his passing on Thursday, many supporters of his supporters assembled in a central area in the capital, Dhaka to demonstrate.
In the hours that followed, protesters attacked the premises of major Bangladeshi publications influential media outlets, with one office reportedly torched.
"Many individuals have gathered here and executed the incident," a officer stated.
Security forces were sent to the site, while rescue workers rescued journalists trapped inside the affected office.
Nation in Mourning
The 32-year-old activist, was a key figure of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha and an outspoken critic of India, where the former prime minister remains in voluntary exile.
Bangladeshi political parties have lamented the loss and pressed the caretaker administration to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who chairs the caretaker government, called Hadi's death "a devastating blow for the country".
"The country's march toward democracy cannot be halted through intimidation, violence, or killing," he declared in a national address on that day.
The interim government declared a national day of grief on the upcoming weekend.
Ongoing Investigation
In the immediate aftermath of Hadi was attacked, the interim leader asserted it was a planned assault and "the objective of the conspirators is to disrupt the election".
"Acts of intimidation designed to disrupt the election must be condemned," he added. "This development is a worrying development for the nation's politics."
Authorities are investigating and several people have been arrested in link with the shooting.
Background: Hasina's Exit and Sentence
Hasina fled to the neighboring country on 5 August last year, following weeks of mass unrest, ending 15 years of tightening grip on power.
Later last year, she was given a death sentence for crimes against humanity after being found guilty of allowing lethal force to be used against demonstrators, many of whom lost their lives during the protests.
