Protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh visit
Team News Riveting
Dhaka, March 28
Activists of a hardline Islamist group attacked the Hindu temples and a train in eastern Bangladesh on Sunday to protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
Modi arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s nationhood. He left on Saturday after gifting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina some 1.2 million Covid-19 vaccine shots. China had kept a close watch on the visit of Indian Prime Minister to Bangladesh where it had been consolidating its position by pumping huge investment.
According to the local police, at least 11 protesters were killed since Friday in clashes with police during demonstrations organised by Islamist groups against the Indian leader’s visit. Violence erupted after Modi’s departure as activists came out in the streets to protest against the deaths.
Islamist groups accused Modi of discriminating against minority Muslims in Hindu-majority India.
Activists with the Hefazat-e-Islam group attacked a train in the eastern district of Brahmanbaria, resulting in 10 people being injured, a police official said. They burnt tyres to block traffic on a motorway in Narayanganj, Bangladesh. Several Hindu temples were also targeted.
Government offices, including the land office and a government-sponsored music academy, were set on fire and several Hindu temples were also attacked, said a journalist in Brahmanbaria town. Even the press club was attacked, leaving many injured, including the press club president, he added.
“Police opened fire on our peaceful supporters,” Hefazat-e-Islam’s organising secretary Azizul Haque told a rally. “We will not let the blood of our brothers go in vain.”
Islamist activists also set on fire two buses in the western district of Rajshahi on Sunday, while hundreds of protesters clashed with police in several places, pelting stones. Hefazat-e-Islam had called for a nationwide strike on Sunday.
