Bangladesh Unrest News Live Updates: Dhaka leader flags violence; questions Yunus

Bangladesh’s interim government on Tuesday said it would take responsibility for the family of a Hindu worker who was lynched on blasphemy charges last week. Education adviser C R Abrar met the family of 25-year-old Dipu Das, who was killed by a mob and his body set on fire in Mymensingh on December 18.

“The state has taken the responsibilities of taking care of Dipu Das’ child, wife and parents,” Abrar said, as cited by PTI. He called the killing of the garment worker a “brutal crime which has no excuse”.

Foreign affairs expert Sushant Sareen on Tuesday said that there is a clear threat to Indian missions in Bangladesh, hence some of their services were suspended. On the Bangladesh High Commission temporarily suspending all visa and consular services for Indian nationals, Sareen said that the Interim government of Bangladesh cannot control the mob.

He said, "The reason why the Indian visas were being suspended, or visa services were temporarily suspended, was due to security reasons. Cops and the government in Bangladesh say that we cannot control the mob because they will turn violent. There is a clear and present security threat to Indian missions in Bangladesh, which is why some of the services were suspended."

"Now that a similar situation does not obtain out here. I don't think any Indian cop has said, or any Indian government or Indian authority has said, that we cannot control mobs. So the Bangladeshis said that there was a security threat to their missions; they're being disingenuous. It's that typical Pakistani tit-for-tat card. But for the Indians, there was a legitimate reason why there was an apprehension that was being felt, apprehension that there would be an attack on the Indian mission," he added.

Revealing the info, chief of interim Bangladesh government, Muhammad Yunus said, "The Office of the Chief Adviser expresses its 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."

Bangladeshi actor and activist Rokeya Prachy said that ordinary citizens in Bangladesh are not opposed to India and that anti-India sentiments are being deliberately stoked by fundamentalist groups for political gains.

Speaking to ANI, Prachy, who is also a member of the Awami League, expressed concern about the current situation in Bangladesh and criticised the approach adopted by the interim Yunus government toward India, calling it "unwise" and harmful to the interests of the Bangladeshi people.

Awami League is the political party of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"The common people of Bangladesh are not against India. Fundamentalists are trying to whip up anti-Indian sentiments," Prachy said, alleging that radical groups were attempting to provoke tensions by creating hostility against India.

"State LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "It's not only the murder of a Hindu in bangladesh. We all seen the viral video of the Bangladesh police handing over the Hindu man to the protestors. It's rare that police hand over anyone to a protester from a police station. It's the Yunus government's shameful act. The whole world and the Hindus are protesting over this incident. Many common people are protesting over this incident in Bangladesh. Today, Kolkata Police lathi-charged protestors. It's proven that no difference between Mamata Banerjee and Md Yunus," he said.

Activists of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday held protests in Mumbai against the alleged lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh.

Around 50 activists carrying saffron flags and placards reading “Save Hindus” gathered outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Cuffe Parade and raised slogans. Police personnel later moved the protesters to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, an official said.

A similar demonstration was held outside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, where over 100 activists raised slogans and staged a sit-in on a road between the civic body building and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station, briefly disrupting traffic.

Police intervened and shifted the protesters to Azad Maidan. Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe reached the spot and appealed to the demonstrators to clear the road, following which normalcy was restored.

Hundreds of supporters of a pro-Hindutva outfit, protesting the alleged attack on minorities in the neighbouring nation, tried to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission here on Tuesday afternoon and clashed with the police when they were stopped by the personnel in uniform.

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 situation in front of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission has been brought under control. Those who attempted to gather there illegally have been removed. So far, 12 people have been arrested in the area. These are preventive arrests," a senior Kolkata Police officer said.

The area had been secured with seven layers of barricades and a reinforced presence of police and paramilitary.

An officer said a 1,500-strong police force was deployed ahead of the demonstration.

He said police managed to hold the protesters about 800 metres from the high commission.

DTC buses were parked as an obstacle to thwart the protesters' bid to reach the high commission.

Holding saffron flags and shouting slogans against the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, 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.

The area had been secured with seven layers of barricades and a reinforced presence of police and paramilitary.

An officer said a 1,500-strong police force was deployed ahead of the demonstration.

Bangladesh is passing through a “transitional process,” but certain individuals and groups are involved in a “dangerous conspiracy” to derail it, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, prothomalo reported.

Addressing a press briefing at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Mirza Fakhrul said that although the country has emerged from what he described as a “horrific fascist rule,” conspiracies to obstruct the transition are still continuing.

“Even now, it is apparent that certain individuals and quarters have undertaken a dangerous conspiracy to obstruct this transitional process,” he said, adding that Osman Hadi was “martyred through this conspiracy.” He also offered prayers for the forgiveness of Hadi’s soul.

Mirza Fakhrul said the end of what he called a “terrible fascist regime” had opened the way for elections, and expressed hope that an elected government and parliament would put the country back on the right path, prothomalo reported.

Criticising the current administration, he said government failures had worsened the law-and-order situation. “Our expectation was that Professor Muhammad Yunus’ government would at least demonstrate capability in these few months and manage the country efficiently,” he said.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed concern over the alleged harassment of Hindu women in Bangladesh, saying the reports are "deeply disturbing". "Reports from Bangladesh alleging that Hindu women fear moving freely while wearing sindoor are deeply disturbing," the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said in a post on X. Mufti said the leadership of the country is, however, in a moral dilemma as "lumpen elements" in India are "forcibly pulling off the hijab of Muslim women".

"Sadly, the Indian leadership appears to face a moral dilemma in raising this grave issue with Bangladeshi authorities, as lumpen elements at home are themselves seen forcibly pulling off the hijabs of Muslim women. In a world dominated by fanatics, who will truly stand up for the rights and dignity of women?" she added.

Ties between India and Bangladesh have hit another roadblock after the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka sparked anti-India protests. Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s July uprising in Bangladesh, was killed amid rising political tensions, triggering widespread unrest. Bangladesh government suspended visa services in India following protests outside Bangladeshi missions.

Protests also erupted in Bangladesh following the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a young Hindu man lynched in Mymensingh. Hindu religious organisations and minority rights groups held a demonstration outside the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday. Protesters described the incident as part of a wider pattern of religious extremism, attacks on minorities and official inaction.

Security was beefed up outside the Bangladesh High Commission ahead of a protest by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal over attacks on Hindus in the neighbouring country. The area has been secured with three layers of barricading and more force from the police and paramilitary.

"We have stepped up security in view of the protest. Barricades have been put in place and forces deployed to prevent any untoward incident," a police officer said.

The VHP and Bajrang Dal have announced a demonstration at the high commission building to denounce alleged atrocities against Hindus and vandalism of their religious places in Bangladesh.

Several protesters were seen holding banners and placards, raising slogans at the embassy.

Protest erupted across multiple cities including outside the Bangladesh high commission in Delhi, to condemn the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu worker in Bangladesh.

In Delhi outside Dhaka's mission visuals showed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) protesters clashing with security forces, attempting to march towards the building. They broke through police barricades but were stopped by multi-layered security cordons comprising police and paramilitary staff.

Security was beefed up around the commission in the national capital following the protest call by the VHP.

Tensions escalated when a massive crowd of demonstrators pushed the security barricades. Protestors were chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Yunus Sarkar Hosh me Aao", and "Hindu Hatiya Band Karo," reported ANI.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma was summoned to the country’s ministry of foreign affairs amid concerns over the security of Bangladeshi missions in India. Bangladesh foreign secretary Asad Alam Siam called in the Indian envoy, Prothomalo.com reported, citing diplomatic sources.

According to the sources, Verma was summoned in view of the evolving security situation around Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions in several Indian cities, including New Delhi and Kolkata.

The sources said the Indian High Commissioner was requested to ensure enhanced security arrangements for Bangladeshi missions across India.