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Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh came under attack overnight amid escalating unrest in the country. Bangladesh slipped into widespread turmoil
overnight over the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the July Uprising. Bangladesh witnessed a wave of protests that rapidly spiralled into violence. India’s missions in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong were targeted, with incidents of stone pelting reported at the gates of the facilities. No Indian diplomat or official was injured in the attacks, and all personnel are safe.
India Had Flagged Security Concerns Days Before Attacks
The attacks come just days after New Delhi had asked Dhaka to provide adequate security to its missions. India on Wednesday had summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and lodged its protest over plans by certain extremist elements to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka. New Delhi also expressed its serious concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh.
In a statement, the MEA said that India "completely rejects the false narrative" sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh. "It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents," it said shortly after summoning Hamidullah.
The MEA said Hamidullah was summoned and apprised of India's strong concerns at the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh. "His attention was drawn, in particular, to the activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka," it said.
The MEA said India expects the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of its missions and posts in that country in keeping with its diplomatic obligations. It also noted that New Delhi is in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh.
What's Happening in Bangladesh
Protestors stormed the offices of Bangladesh's two leading newspapers late Thursday and vandalised Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi, a prominent leader of the July Uprising, was shot last weak and died while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital.
Read More - Bangladesh in Turmoil: How Protests Turned into Chaos After Hadi's Death
National Citizen Party (NCP), a large offshoot of Students against Discrimination (SAD) that led last year's violent protest, chanted anti-India slogans on Thursday night alleging that Hadi's assailants fled to India after committing the murder. They called upon the interim government to close the Indian high commission until they were returned.
Angry demonstrators took to the streets of Dhaka. They attacked the offices of Bangla newspaper Prothom Alo's office and the nearby Daily Star at the capital's Karwan Bazar, near the Shahbagh intersection. The 32 Dhanmandi, the home of Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, regarded as the centre point of Bangladesh's pre-independence struggle for autonomy for decades was also gutted.
The demonstrators also set on fire the house of former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel in the northeastern port city of Chattagram, while reports of such attacks came from other parts of the country.
Bangladesh's chief advisor Muhammad Yunus said Hadi's death has caused an irreparable loss to the country's political and democratic sphere, as he announced one-day state mourning on Saturday.
