Bangladesh Violence: A continued nationwide unrest in Bangladesh has extended to neighboring countries, with Dhaka suspending visas in New Delhi for an indefinite period on Monday (December 23). The retaliatory move comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions, including violence and attacks against Indian diplomatic facilities in Bangladesh.
India recently summoned the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and condemned the attacks on minorities and diplomatic missions. The fallout has also reached West Bengal as people took to the streets of Kolkata to protest over the lynching and burning of a Hindu man in Mymensingh.
At the heart of the unrest lies a grim chain of events. The wave of protests has turned increasingly violent in Bangladesh with people attacking media houses, journalists, minorities, and political platforms.
10 latest developments in Bangladesh unrest
- Suspension of visa services: Amid escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has temporarily suspended consular and visa services on Monday as a retaliatory measure. This development comes after India suspended visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong following a security incident.
- Protest erupts in Kolkata: West Bengal leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and Congress leaders on Monday protested outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata against the attack on Hindus in Dhaka. The demonstrations came in response to the lynching of a Hindu man in the neighbouring country after the death of their student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
- Mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das: A Hindu man named Dipu Chandra Das was beaten, dragged, and set on fire in Bangladesh over alleged blasphemy a few days ago.
- Blasphemy allegation collapses after probe: Officials have found no evidence that Dipu Chandra Das made any religiously offensive remarks or blasphemous social media posts. Investigators believe the allegation was vague, unverified, and possibly due to a workplace dispute.
- Arrests made so far: At least 12 people, including factory supervisors and co-workers, have been arrested so far. Investigators said that Das was forced to resign and dragged out of the factory where he worked instead of being handed over to the police.
- Murder of Sharif Osman Hadi: The death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure who emerged as a youth leader in last year’s July uprising against Sheikh Hasina, sparked massive protests in Bangladesh.
- Inquilab Mancho threatens to topple Yunus govt: Inquilab Mancha, the platform founded by dead anti-India youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, has threatened to topple the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh if justice is not delivered.
- Attack on Media houses: A violent mob on Monday vandalised and torched the country’s leading media houses, Daily Star and Prothom Alo, trapping journalists inside the building for several hours.
- Mob thrashes Hindu rickshaw puller in Bangladesh: After the killing of Dipu, another man, a rickshaw puller, was brutally assaulted by a mob in the Jhenaidah district of the Khulna Division last Friday.
- Yunus’ election promise amid growing unrest: Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Monday reiterated his commitment to hold general elections on February 12. He emphasised that Bangladesh is eagerly waiting to exercise its voting rights. Yunus made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Sergio Gor, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, at approximately 7:30 pm.
