Dhaka police on Wednesday (17th December) stopped a group of protesters marching under the banner of ‘July Oikya’ from surrounding the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. The protestors raised several demands, including the repatriation of the ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India for safety after her government was overthrown last year in August.
Hundreds of protestors led by Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Social Welfare Secretary AB Zubair had gathered at the Rampura Bridge in Dhaka before commencing the march in the afternoon at around 3:00 pm. As the procession reached Uttar Badda around 4:00 pm, the police set up barricades and blocked the protestors from marching forward. Unable to move forward, the protestors sat there and chanted slogans of “Delhi na, Dhaka; Dhaka, Dhaka” and delivered speeches.
Addressing the protesters, Zubair said, “We are not afraid, and we will not attack the Indian High Commission. Our protest is a peaceful one. But if anyone tries to maintain hegemonic control over Bangladesh, they will not be spared.” The July Oikya have been alleging that India-backed parties, media outlets, and government officials in Bangladesh are involved in the “ongoing conspiracies” in the country.
A press release issued by July Oikya earlier this week described the protest march as a symbolic reaffirmation of the spirit of the ‘July Uprising’. The July Uprising was a violent revolution, which started as a student’s revolution but turned violent, leading to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government and the persecution of Hindu minorities. In the press release, July Oikya called for justice against those it held responsible for ‘atrocities’ committed during that revolution.
Bangladesh police took action and prevented the march from reaching the Indian High Commission after India had raised strong objections to rising anti-India sentiments in the country. The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh’s high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah and registered a protest over the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.
The MEA raised concerns over the activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka. MEA also said that India completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh.
It said, “It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents.” “We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” stated the statement of the external affairs ministry.
This comes after Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) leader, Hasnat Abdullah, made remarks against India’s territorial integrity in a speech on Monday (15th December). During his speech, Abdullah said that Bangladesh could shelter separatist forces from India and cut off the seven northeastern states from the rest of the country. Abdullah was among the student leaders who led the protests against Hasina. He made the offensive remarks during an event organised by Inqilab Mancha, the party whose leader, Sharif Osman Hadi, is in a critical condition after being shot by unidentified gunmen on 12th December. Bangladeshi authorities and some NCP leaders had indirectly alleged an Indian connection behind the attack on Hadi.
