Violence broke out in Bangladesh after the death of opposition leader Usman Hadi. Offices of Daily Star and Prothom Alo were burnt, demonstrations took place near Indian missions. The situation is tense. However, all Indian officials are completely safe.
Bangladesh Violence: Violence took a severe form in Bangladesh after the death of Sheikh Hasina’s opposition leader Usman Hadi. Late Thursday night, protesters set fire to the offices of the country’s largest newspapers, the Daily Star and Prothom Alo. At the same time, on Friday, people also protested fiercely near the Indian Embassy in Rajshahi in western Bangladesh. In fact, the crowd trying to attack the Assistant High Commission in Southern Chittagong was pushed back by the security forces, after which the crowd went on a rampage.
Bangladesh Police is not taking timely action
People associated with the matter described the situation outside the Indian mission and post in Bangladesh as tense and said on condition of anonymity that all Indian diplomats and officials were safe. He said Bangladesh police and security forces failed to take timely action against protesters over the past few days, including the incident in Chittagong on Thursday.
Violence may increase as soon as Hadi’s body arrives from Singapore
Indian authorities are also preparing for continued protests after Friday prayers and there are fears that the situation could worsen when Hadi’s body is brought from Singapore to Bangladesh. Hadi was flown to Singapore for treatment after being shot in Dhaka on 12 December. Student groups involved in the protests have tried to link former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party to Hadi’s killing. However, no evidence has emerged in this regard.
12 people have been detained so far
Four people, including two policemen, were injured in clashes between protesters and police outside the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong late Thursday night. The protesters threw bricks and vandalized the campus. Officials said the police have detained 12 people under the anti-terrorism law. Tension escalated further on Thursday when police stopped a crowd marching towards the Indian Assistant High Commission in Rajshahi. Radical and anti-India forces are active in Rajshahi, due to which the possibility of protests has increased.
State mourning on Hadi’s death on Saturday
A day of state mourning has been declared on Saturday over Hadi’s death. Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, said in a statement that the democratic transition must not be derailed by a few who thrive on anarchy and reject peace.