Fresh protests broke out near the Indian mission in the western Bangladeshi city of Rajshahi on Friday, just hours after security forces pushed back a large crowd attempting to breach the Indian assistant high commission in Chittagong. The unrest marks a further escalation in tensions following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
Bangladesh has witnessed a series of demonstrations near the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and assistant high commissions in Chittagong, Khulna, and Rajshahi over the past several days. Protesters have taken to the streets after Hadi, who was critically injured in a shooting incident in Dhaka last week, died on Thursday while undergoing treatment in Singapore.
According to people familiar with the situation, the security environment around Indian diplomatic missions remains tense. Officials confirmed that all Indian diplomats and staff members are safe. However, concerns have been raised over delays in action by local law enforcement, particularly in Chittagong, where intervention reportedly came only after protesters reached close to the mission premises.
On Wednesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah to formally convey concerns over the deteriorating security situation. Indian authorities emphasized that Bangladesh’s interim government is expected to ensure the safety of diplomatic missions in line with international obligations.
Indian agencies are also preparing for the possibility of sustained protests following Friday prayers. Officials fear tensions could further escalate once Hadi’s body is brought back to Bangladesh from Singapore.
Several student groups participating in the protests have alleged links between the Awami League—led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in self-exile in India—and Hadi’s killing. Authorities, however, have stated that no evidence has emerged to support these claims.
On Thursday night, clashes outside the Indian assistant high commission in Chittagong left four people injured, including two police personnel. Protesters reportedly threw bricks and vandalised parts of the premises. Police detained at least 12 individuals under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In Rajshahi, police blocked a march towards the Indian mission on Thursday, leading to brief confrontations. Officials noted that radical and anti-India groups are particularly active in the region, increasing the risk of further unrest.
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, declared a day of state mourning on Saturday in memory of Hadi. In a statement issued on Friday, the government urged citizens to reject mob violence and condemned acts of intimidation, arson, and unrest. It warned that the country’s democratic transition must not be undermined by elements promoting chaos.
The interim administration also condemned the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh, describing it as a grave crime with no place in a new and inclusive Bangladesh. Authorities vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The situation remains fluid as both governments monitor developments closely amid heightened security concerns.
