Bangladesh Remains Volatile, India’s Anger Spills Onto Streets Outside Dhaka Missions | Top Points

Last Updated:December 23, 2025, 18:28 IST

Bangladesh boils over Hadi death, India seeks justice for Dipu Das: Hindu family's house torched in Chattogram; Dhaka summons Indian envoy, Education Adviser meets Das's kin

Protesters outside Bangladesh missions in New Delhi and Kolkata on Tuesday. (PTI)

Even as Bangladesh struggles to deal with the domestic unrest over the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, India on Tuesday saw protests, mostly outside the diplomatic missions, demanding security of Hindus in the neighbouring country and action against those who lynched Dipu Chandra Das.

Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area, a day after the Election Commission announced that the next national election would be held on February 12. He succumbed to his injuries on December 18.

His killing sparked widespread protests that spiralled into arson and vandalism targeting major media outlets and cultural institutions. A senior student leader of Bangladesh’s Citizen Party (NCP), Motaleb Sikder, was shot and injured by unidentified assailants in Khulna on Monday.

Amid the chaos, on December 18, Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Investigations revealed he had not committed any blasphemous actions. Gobinda Biswas, a Hindu rickshaw puller, too, was assaulted by a mob in Jhenaidah district of Khulna Division on Friday, for wearing a red sacred thread on his wrist, a symbol commonly worn by Hindus.

BANGLADESH EDUCATION ADVISER VISITS DIPU CHANDRA DAS’S FAMILY

The Office of the Chief Adviser expressed profound sorrow over the recent killing of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and extends its deepest condolences to his family. On behalf of the government, Education Adviser Professor C R Abrar visited the family in Mymensingh on Tuesday to convey the government’s sympathy and assurance of support during this difficult time.

“The Interim Government reiterates that this killing was a heinous criminal act with no justification and no place in Bangladeshi society. Allegations, rumours, or differences of belief can never excuse violence, and no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands. The government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the rule of law. The authority to investigate alleged offences and to ensure justice through due process rests solely with the state. Law enforcement authorities have arrested 12 individuals in connection with the crime. Investigations are ongoing, and the Interim Government has directed that the case be pursued fully and without exception. Such acts of violence will be met with the full force of the law. The government remains fully committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and equal protection of all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or background. It calls upon all communities, institutions, and leaders to reject violence, resist attempts to create division or unrest, and uphold restraint, humanity, and respect for the law. The Office of the Chief Adviser confirms that financial and welfare assistance will be provided to the family of Dipu Chandra Das, and that the relevant authorities will remain in close contact with them in the coming period. The Interim Government reiterates its resolve to protect all citizens and to ensure that justice is served," said the statement.

BANGLADESH SUMMONS INDIAN ENVOY

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to express “grave concern" over previous protests outside its visa centres.

Dhaka said it summoned the envoy to express concern over “violent protests" outside other diplomatic missions, urging India to investigate the incidents. India’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that the New Delhi demonstration consisted of “20-25 youths" who were dispersed by police after a few minutes, adding that India was “committed to ensure the safety of foreign missions".

Ties between the neighbours have deteriorated since the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled the pro-democracy uprising last year and sought refuge in India. India says it is still considering Dhaka’s requests to extradite Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia for orchestrating a deadly crackdown on the uprising. Bangladesh has been in political turmoil since the end of Hasina’s rule, with violence marring the campaigning ahead of next year’s election.

HINDU FAMILY’S HOME TORCHED IN CHATTOGRAM

A Hindu family’s home in the Raozan Upazila of Chattogram was deliberately set ablaze late on Tuesday, destroying household property and killing the family’s pets, police and local residents said.

BANGLADESH ON ALERT, TARIQUE’S RETURN

Bangladesh has been placed on an alert following the assassination of Hadi and Sikder. The most visible focus of the security build-up is Bangladesh ist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who is set to return to the country after 17 years in exile.

His homecoming is widely seen as a politically significant moment, carrying the potential to reshape the opposition landscape ahead of crucial political developments.

‘ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON TIME’: YUNUS DIALS US

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday informed US Special Envoy to South and Central Asia Sergio Gor that elections will be held on time, amid unrest in the country over the death of 2024 uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

During a phone call, Yunus reaffirmed his commitment to holding general elections on February 12 and said the nation was eagerly waiting to exercise its voting rights, which were “stolen by the autocratic regime", a reference to the Sheikh Hasina administration.

The Chief Adviser told Gor that Hasina’s supporters were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process and that their fugitive leader was inciting violence. However, he stressed that his government was “fully prepared" to deal with any challenges.

“We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable," Professor Yunus said.

INDIAN VISA SERVICES RESUME IN BANGLADESH

Indian visa services resumed across Bangladesh after a brief disruption triggered by security concerns, with operations remaining suspended only at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong.

Visa services at the Chittagong centre have been suspended since December 21 following a mob incident on the night of December 18-19, which raised concerns over the safety of diplomatic premises and personnel. All other Indian visa centres across Bangladesh are currently functioning normally, with applications being processed as usual, officials said.

The suspension in Chittagong came amid heightened tensions following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader and former student protest figure, whose killing triggered unrest in several parts of the country. During the violence, multiple incidents of vandalism were reported, including stone-hurling at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chittagong.

The Indian Visa Application Centre in the port city said visa services would remain closed until further notice, adding that a decision on reopening would be taken after a review of the local security situation.

BANGLADESH SUSPENDS VISA OPS IN DELHI, SILIGURI

Bangladesh has suspended visa operations temporarily in Delhi and Siliguri, citing security concerns, a foreign ministry official told ANI.

PROTESTS IN INDIA

NEW DELHI: Holding saffron flags and shouting slogans, hundreds of supporters of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal broke barricades and clashed with police near the fortified Bangladesh High Commission on Tuesday. Several barricades lay in disarray as police struggled to contain the surge. The high security area witnessed a beefed-up police presence in the morning ahead of the protest announced by the Hindu right against the lynching of a Hindu man in the strife-torn neighbouring nation.

BENGAL: Hundreds of supporters of a pro-Hindutva outfit tried to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission here on Tuesday afternoon. Police resorted to baton charge to disperse the protestors after they breached barricades, both human and iron guard rails, in their attempts to move closer to the Deputy High Commission office at Beckbagan in central Kolkata. At least 12 protestors were arrested. Several protestors and police personnel sustained minor injuries in the clashes. The march titled ‘Hindu Hunkar Padayatra’ was organised under the banner of ‘Bongiyo Hindu Jagaran Mancha’ with protestors carrying saffron flags and shouting slogans against alleged violence on minority Hindus in Bangladesh. The rally started from Sealdah and was proceeding towards the diplomatic office, when it was stopped by police in the Beckbagan area, and the activists were pushed back.

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association on Tuesday protested the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to either bring Hindus to India or ensure their protection there. The lawyers also demanded that illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants be evicted from Jammu.

Bhopal: Vishva Hindu Parishad along with Bajrang Dal and other Hindu outfits staged a protest in Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal on Tuesday over the atrocities against Hindus and the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh.

HYDERABAD: In Hyderabad, several Hindu organisations led by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) protested in Kothapet on Tuesday.

MUMBAI: Mumbai Police on Tuesday detained members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who were protesting against the recent mob lynching and killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man, and called for strict action against targeted atrocities in Bangladesh.

With Agency Inputs

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