Bangladesh unrest: Diplomatic face-off with India as protests spill into Kolkata — 10 points

Unrest in Bangladesh has begun spilling across its borders, prompting Dhaka to suspend visa services indefinitely on Monday after protesters gathered near its High Commission in New Delhi. India has responded by summoning Bangladesh’s envoy and conveying strong objections over attacks on minorities and threats to diplomatic missions.

The fallout has been visible on the streets of Kolkata, where large demonstrations erupted outside the Bangladesh High Commission. The protests were driven by outrage over the lynching and burning of a Hindu man in Mymensingh and growing fears in India of rising Islamist mob violence in the neighbouring country.

At the centre of the turmoil is a grim sequence of events: the mob killing of a Hindu garment worker on unproven blasphemy allegations, the assassination of a radical youth leader who emerged from last year’s uprising, and protests that have since turned increasingly violent.

Media offices have been attacked, journalists trapped inside burning buildings, minorities have taken to the streets seeking protection, and political platforms that once backed the interim government are now threatening to bring it down.

Here are the 10 latest developments in Bangladesh’s unrest:

1. Visa services suspended
Bangladesh has halted visa services at its High Commission in New Delhi and at missions in Tripura and Siliguri, citing security concerns after protests near diplomatic premises, according to people familiar with the matter. India has summoned Bangladesh’s envoy and lodged strong objections over attacks on minorities and threats to missions.

2. Anger spills onto Kolkata’s streets
Large protests broke out outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata, with demonstrators condemning the killing of Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh. Protest leaders warned of further agitation, including possible border blockades.

3. Lynching of Dipu Chandra Das shocks the region
Das, a Hindu garment worker, was allegedly beaten by a mob, dragged out of his factory, hung and set on fire. The killing has become a symbol of Bangladesh’s deteriorating law-and-order situation. Police and Rapid Action Battalion officials say the attack unfolded over several hours and was not spontaneous.

4. Blasphemy claim collapses under scrutiny
Investigators say there is no evidence that Das made any blasphemous remarks or posts. Authorities now believe the allegation was vague and possibly used as a pretext, with a workplace dispute emerging as a potential trigger.

5. Factory officials among those arrested
At least 12 people have been arrested, including factory supervisors and co-workers. Investigators say Das was forced to resign and pushed out of the factory instead of being handed over to police, a delay that proved fatal.

6. Murder of Osman Hadi fuels nationwide unrest
The killing of Osman Hadi, a prominent face of last year’s July uprising against Sheikh Hasina, has sparked widespread protests. Hadi was shot in Dhaka, airlifted to Singapore and died days later, becoming a rallying point for radical mobilisation.

7. Inquilab Mancho threatens interim government
The protest platform Inquilab Mancho, led by Hadi’s associates, has issued an ultimatum to the interim government, warning of a mass movement to topple it if justice is not delivered. The group has demanded a fast-track tribunal and even foreign investigative assistance.

8. Media houses attacked, journalists trapped
Mobs vandalised and torched the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, trapping journalists inside for hours. Editors said the attacks were aimed at silencing the press rather than protesting coverage.

9. Minorities protest amid rising fear
Hindu and other minority groups have staged demonstrations in Dhaka and elsewhere, accusing the interim government of failing to prevent targeted violence. Rights groups warn that minorities feel increasingly unsafe since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

10. Yunus reiterates election pledge
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has reiterated that general elections will be held on February 12, saying the administration is prepared to manage the challenges. Critics, however, question whether free and peaceful polls are possible amid assassinations, mob violence and deepening political instability.