Arson Attack on Udichi’s Dhaka Office Amid Citywide Tension

The Dhaka office of Udichi Shilpigosthi, located on Topkhana Road in Shegunbagicha, was vandalised and set on fire by a group of protesters on the evening of December 19, 2025. The attack occurred around 7:00 PM amid rising tensions in the capital following the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a leader of the Inqilab Mancha.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence received the report at 7:42 PM. Four firefighting units were dispatched to the scene. The fire was brought under control by 8:13 PM, though extinguishing operations continued afterward.

According to theatre activist Pulak Raj, the group initiated the fire around 7:15 PM.3 Fortunately, no individuals were trapped inside the building at the time of the incident. The attack caused significant panic among local residents and others inside the multi-purpose building.

In response to the violence, a heavy security presence—including the Police, RAB, Army, and BGB—was deployed to the area to restore order. While local witnesses reported a deliberate act of vandalism and arson, the Officer in Charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station, Md Moniruzzaman, stated that the identities of the perpetrators have not yet been confirmed.