Police in Dhaka on Wednesday stopped a large group of protesters marching towards the Indian High Commission, as tensions rose over demands for the extradition of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in India since her ouster last year.
The demonstrators, rallying under the banner of “July Oikya” (July Unity), were chanting anti-India slogans and calling for the return of Hasina and other figures who fled Bangladesh following the July 2024 student-led uprising. The protest was intercepted near Hossain Market in North Badda, close to the diplomatic enclave, according to Dhaka police.
Authorities erected barricades to prevent the procession from advancing towards the High Commission. While protesters initially broke through one barrier, they were stopped at a second security cordon, after which they staged a sit-in on the road, disrupting traffic in the area for several hours.
Local media reported that slogans such as “Delhi or Dhaka, Dhaka is Dhaka” were raised, along with calls seeking justice for protest leaders killed during last year’s unrest. Protest organisers claimed that the demonstration was peaceful but accused India of interfering in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
India Raises Security Concerns
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh’s envoy Riaz Hamidullah, expressing strong concern over what it described as extremist elements attempting to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
India also reiterated its expectation that Bangladesh’s interim government ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic missions in line with international obligations. Earlier in the day, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka temporarily shut operations citing security concerns.
Diplomatic Tensions Ahead of Elections
Bangladesh is scheduled to hold general elections on February 12, the first since Hasina’s removal from power. The political atmosphere has remained tense following recent incidents of violence, including the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure from the July protests.
Responding to India’s remarks on election security, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain said Dhaka did not seek advice from neighbouring countries on how to conduct its polls, adding that India had remained silent during what he described as flawed elections under Hasina’s rule.
Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, after violent protests ended her Awami League government. Last month, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced her to death in absentia for her role in a deadly crackdown on protesters.
The protest march eventually dispersed by late afternoon, but the incident highlighted growing anti-India sentiment, rising political volatility, and mounting security concerns as Bangladesh heads toward a crucial electoral test.
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