Four killed in clashes sparked by Modi visit to Bangladesh

26 March 2021, 15:54

Bangladesh Independence
Bangladesh Independence. Picture: PA

The Indian PM’s two-day visit includes commemorating 100 years since the birth of Bangladeshi independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

At least four people have been killed and scores injured in violent protests set off by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Bangladesh to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence.

The casualties happened after students from a prominent madrasa or Islamic school and members of an Islamist group clashed with police in the south-eastern district of Chattogram.

Alauddin Talukder, a police official at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, told reporters that five people with injuries were taken to the hospital and four died during treatment.

Bangladesh Independence
Two factions of protesters clash after Friday prayers (Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP)

Local media reported that members of the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, which has a network of Islamic schools, attacked government buildings, including a police station and a land office, in Hathazari, Chattogram, before police took action.

At Dhaka’s main mosque, clashes broke out between groups of demonstrators, and police dispersed the crowd by using tear gas and rubber bullets — injuring scores of people, officials and witnesses said.

Mr Modi’s two-day visit, his first abroad since the coronavirus pandemic began, will include commemorating 100 years since the birth of Bangladeshi independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of current prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Ms Hasina, a key partner for India in maintaining regional stability, welcomed Mr Modi at the airport on Friday morning.

Bangladesh Independence
Narendra Modi receives a bouquet of flowers from Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka (Narendra Modi Twitter/AP)

Critics accuse his Hindu-nationalist party of stoking religious polarisation in India and discriminating against minorities, particularly Muslims.

In recent weeks, demonstrators in Bangladesh have urged the Indian leader not to visit and chanted anti-India and anti-Modi slogans. They also have criticised Ms Hasina for inviting him.

Outside the Baitul Mokarram mosque, hundreds of protesters had gathered by the afternoon. Witnesses said clashes started after one faction began waving their shoes as a sign of disrespect to Mr Modi, and another group tried to stop them.

Local media said the protesters who tried to stop the shoe-waving are aligned with the ruling Awami League party, which criticised the other faction for attempting to create chaos during Mr Modi’s visit.

Bangladesh Independence
Clashes in Dhaka (Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP)

Local TV showed protesters throwing stones at police, who were heavily present on the streets near the mosque. Somoy TV reported that at least 40 people were injured, including journalists, and were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

A police official said members of several Islamist groups had joined the protests, but it was not immediately clear which groups they were representing.

After Mr Modi’s arrival, Ms Hasina told an audience in a parade square in Dhaka that Bangladesh’s relations with India have reached a new high, adding: “If we move forward hand in hand, the development of our people is inevitable.”

While Mr Modi’s trip is mainly focused on Bangladesh’s anniversary celebrations, the visit also has a political agenda at home, as voting begins on Saturday in several state-level elections, including West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Video footage shows the convoy had emergency lights flashing when it was hit

Israel admits ‘mistakenly’ killing 15 aid workers after video leak contradicted official version of events

Jaguar Land Rover has paused shipments to the US in the wake of 'Liberation Day' tariffs

Jaguar Land Rover halts shipments to US in wake of tariffs as Trump insists he'll win 'economic revolution'

Flowers and toys left on a swing seat to commemorate victims killed in Russia's missile attack on Friday

Death toll from Russian strike on Zelenskyy's home town rises as 18 confirmed dead - including nine children

Donald Trump's 10% tariff on UK products has officially come into force

Trump tariffs come into force as global stock markets plunge deeper into the red

Tom Howard

British tourist killed after being struck by boulder on trek through Himalayas

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a car burns following a Russian missile attack that killed more than a dozen people, including children, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia kills 16 people including three children in missile strike on Zelenskyy's home town, with dozens wounded

Travel influencer Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, made an illegal visit to North Sentinel Island

Tourist who left Coke for world's most isolated tribe 'could have wiped them all out' - and police 'can't go collect can'

White House weighs in to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

White House looking to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

This image provided by NASA shows Nick Hague, right, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore. (NASA via AP)

Stranded NASA astronauts reveal they were almost trapped in space 'forever' after horror malfunction

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen'

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen' after far-right leader found guilty of embezzlement in 'witch hunt'

China will impose a 34% retaliatory tariff on imports from the US

China announces additional 34% tariffs on US imports in retaliation over Trump's 'Liberation Day' levies

Friends of Prince Andrew say he's "unsurprised" Giuffre made the post

Prince Andrew 'not surprised' his accuser shared shock post saying she had 'four days to live'

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol removed from office as impeachment upheld over martial law declaration

Virginia Giuffre

Woman driving Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre during crash that left her with 'four days to live' breaks silence

Exclusive
'Donald Trump has made Putin comfortable,' Mikhail Khodorkovsky has warned

'Trump has made Putin comfortable' despite massive Ukraine war losses, exiled former oligarch tells LBC

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour.

British couple found dead in south of France home being ‘treated as murder-suicide’