New Delhi/Dhaka: Tensions between India and Bangladesh reached a flashpoint on Tuesday as Hindu groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, held massive protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. The demonstrators are demanding justice for Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker who was brutally lynched in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, over vague blasphemy allegations.
Key Developments in the Growing Crisis
The situation across the border remains volatile, with several high-profile incidents fueling the fire:
- Violence in Bangladesh: The current wave of unrest was triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader from the July uprising, who succumbed to gunshot wounds in Singapore last week.
- Media Under Attack: Protesters in Bangladesh targeted the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, setting them on fire and trapping journalists inside for hours.
- Another Leader Shot: On Monday, Mohammad Motaleb Sikder, a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), was shot in the head in Khulna. While a bullet grazed his skull, he is reportedly in stable condition.
- Security for Media/Leaders: In response to the targeted attacks, the Bangladesh government has increased gunman protection for at least 20 individuals, including senior editors.
Diplomatic Fallout and Visa Suspensions
The unrest has severely impacted diplomatic operations between the two neighbors:
- Indefinite Suspensions: Bangladesh has suspended all visa and consular services in New Delhi, Agartala, and Siliguri, citing security concerns following protests near its missions.
- Indian Visa Shutdown: India previously suspended visa operations in Chittagong after a mob attempted to storm its mission there.
- UN Intervention: UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killing of Dipu Chandra Das on Tuesday, emphasizing that minorities must feel safe in all countries.
Growing Threats to the Interim Government
In Dhaka, Inqilab Moncho, the platform previously led by the late Sharif Osman Hadi, has threatened a movement to oust the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government if justice for Hadi is not delivered swiftly. Meanwhile, the Indian government has summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner to raise concerns over minority safety and inflammatory speeches by some political leaders threatening India’s internal security.