2021 Bangladesh anti-Modi protests

Anti-Modi protests (2021)
Date	19 March 2021 - Ongoing
Location	• Dhaka • Chittagong • Brahmanbaria
Caused by	Arrival of Narendra Modi in Bangladesh during celebrations of 50 years of Bangladesh freedom.
Goals	To cancel invitation of Narendra Modi
Methods	Demonsrations, stone pelting.
Parties
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Students Union, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad. Police, Border Guards Bangladesh, Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Lead figures
Junaid Babunagari, Mamunul Haque, Nurul Haq Nur Sheikh Hasina
Casualties
Death(s)	10

The 2021 Bangladesh Anti-Modi Protests is a series of rallies, demonstrations, and blockades against the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangladesh from March 25 to 27, on the celebration of the birth centenary and the 50th Anniversary of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan. Accusing Narendra Modi of committing crimes against humanity during the anti-Muslim genocide in Gujarat in 2002, protesters demanded the cancellation of the Bangladesh government's invitation to the Indian Prime Minister. The protest went violent and resulted in deadly clashes and attacks on public properties throughout the last week of March 2021 in Bangladesh. Initially launched by progressive students in Dhaka, the demonstrations were later spearheaded by Islamist forces across the country. The main Islamist group behind the protest is Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an organization of mostly Madarasa students.

The deadly conflict is chiefly started when supporters of Awami League tried to stop the protesters from waving their shoes as a sign of disrespect to modi at Baitul Mukarram mosque, Dhaka. The violence then spread to several key districts in the country.

Amnesty International in a statement criticized the Bangladesh government for using excessive force on the protesters and urged the government to "respect the right to freedom of assembly and protect peaceful protesters", on 26 March 2021. The deadly conflict resulted in at least 10 people killed and several injured.

Background

Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan on 26 March 1971, with the diplomatic and military support of India. The 50th instance of 26 March since then marked the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence and to celebrate the day Bangladesh government invited the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Soon after the Indian Prime Minister decided to join the celebration, Bangladeshi students and Islamists declared to resist him from visiting Bangladesh.

Former Vice-President of Dhaka University Central Students' Union Nurul Haq Nur in a rally in front of the Press Club on 12 March 2021, terming Narendra Modi the "Butcher of Gujrat", said that he is unwelcomed in Bangladesh. On the other hand, the Police chief of Bangladesh declared restrictions on movement during the visit of foreign guests including the Indian Premier on March 15, 2021. He also requested the political parties not to hold programs during the visit of Narendra Modi.

On 18 March 2021, progressive students' organizations declared a series of protests against the visit of Narendra Modi to Bangladesh including rally, demonstration, effigy burning, and torch-march and on the same day, leaders of the Awami League government-backed students' wing Bangladesh Chhatra League, known for hooliganism and terrorism, declared to deal the protesters and threatened to 'peel off the skin' whoever protests.

Timeline of protest

The first demonstration against the visit of Narendra Modi was held on March 19, 2021, and it has been going on. Bangladesh Police, as well as ruling party-backed organizations Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Bangladesh Awami Swechasebak League, have swopped on the protesters triggering violence, in retaliation from the protesters.

March 19

• Hundreds of Muslims protested the forthcoming visit of Narendra Modi and call for resisting the Indian premier from a rally that came out of the national mosque Baitul Mukarram in Dhaka.
• Around 200 students affiliated with progressive students' alliance rallied inside the University of Dhaka and asked Modi not to come

March 23

• Bangladesh Chhatra League men snatched away the effigy of Narendra Modi from the activists of Students' Federation of Bangladesh when they tried to burn that and fled the scene.
• Activists of progressive students' alliance were attacked in front of the Dhaka University's Teacher-Students Center when they tried to burn the effigy of Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Chhatra League men snatched it away once again. A clash erupted when they fought back against the hooligans of the Chhatra League led by Atanu Barman and Ahesun Dhrubo. Around 20 students from the student group were beaten by BSL hooligans including female activists.
• Journalists who were covering the attack on the Anti-Modi protesters were attacked brutally by BSL backed people.

March 26

• Muslims gathered after the Friday prayer at the Baitul Mukarram mosque at noon and chanted slogans against Narendra Modi. Armed cadres of BSL and Jubo League who took position around the place before the prayer, backed by Police, attacked the protesters inside the compound of the mosque triggering a violent chase-counter chase. Police started shooting rubber bullets targeting the protesters. Many protesters were beaten mercilessly and some received bullet injuries. At least 148 people received treatment in a Dhaka hospital after the gruesome attack.
• The attack in Baitul Mukarram infuriated students at Hathazari of Chittagong, the stronghold of Islamist students. Students came out in the street to protest the attack on their fellows. The demonstration was obstructed by Police while passing the Hathazari Police Station. Angry protesters started attacking police station, and public properties, prompting police to open fire. Four protesters died in the process.
• One youth protester died in Brahmanbaria when Islamist Hefazat activists attacked the railway station and other adjacent government buildings in protest of the attack on Muslims in Baitul Mukarram.

March 27

• Four villagers of Brahmanbaria were shot dead by local police and BGB personnel in Brahmanbaria when they tried to block the highway in protest of the death of Hefazat activists.
• Armed cadres of Awami League and Chhatra League attacked a madrasa at Brahmanbaria killing a student inside.
• Six cops injured as anti-Modi protesters attack police station in Faridpur. The attack was aimed to disrupt return to Dhaka from Gopalganj and Khulna, where Modi visited temples and the mausoleum of Bangabandhu. The police fired rubber bullets to disperse the mob.

28 March

During the hartal called by Hefazat supporters on Sunday in the agitation of killings of its protesters by police firing, Hefajat activists brought out processions in the capital's Lalbagh, Paltan, Baitul Mukarram, Mohammadpur, Basila, Saat Masjid and Jatrabari areas in the morning.

Violence erupted in Bramanbaria where hartal supporters attacked trains and many government offices. Some hindu temples were also attacked.

Reaction

To stop the spread of news and cut off communication across the country, the government of Bangladesh blocked Facebook on March 26, from the afternoon. Facebook in a statement claimed that "We are aware that our services have been restricted in Bangladesh." "We’re working to understand more and hope to have full access restored as soon as possible," they added.

International rights group Amnesty International termed the Bangladesh government response to the protest as "Bloody Crackdown" and said, "The Bangladeshi authorities must respect the right to freedom of assembly and protect peaceful protestors."

Twenty eminent citizens of Bangladesh demanded punishment for those responsible for attacking anti-Modi protesters and carrying out violence in Chattogram's Hathazari, in a joint statement. Among the M Hafizuddin Khan, Ali Imam Majumder, Professor Anu Muhammad, Badiul Alam Majumdar, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Sara Hossain, CR Abrar, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, Asif Nazrul, Shahidul Alam, Hasnat Quaiyum, Nur Khan Liton, Shireen Huq, Jakir Hossain, Perween Hasan, Lubna Marium, Sharmeen Murshid, Firdous Azim, Naila Zaman Khan and Rahnuma Ahmed.

Bangladesh's main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party protested the killing of people on the country's independence day for protesting the visit of a foreign national. They declared a countrywide demonstration on March 29 and March 30.