Security Tightened at Indian Mission, Visa Centre in Bangladesh Amid Protests

DHAKA, Dec 21: Security has been significantly tightened at the Indian Assistant High Commission office and the Indian visa application centre in Bangladesh’s Sylhet city amid protests and rising tensions following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, officials said.

Additional security deployment was made to ensure that “no third party can exploit the situation,” Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Saiful Islam was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune.

Police said security was reinforced from Friday morning at the Assistant High Commission office in the Upashahar area, the residence of the Assistant High Commissioner in the same locality, and the visa application centre in Shobhanighat. Security personnel also remained deployed throughout the night.

The heightened alert followed the death of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Hadi, after which Gano Odhikar Parishad announced a programme to besiege the Assistant High Commission office.

According to reports, Inqilab Mancha activists staged a sit-in in front of the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar, protesting Hadi’s killing and raising slogans against what they termed Indian dominance.

Hadi, a key leader of the student-led protests last year that resulted in the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was also a candidate for the February 12 general elections.

He was shot in the head by masked assailants during an election campaign in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12 and later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday.

His death sparked protests, attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-pelting at the residence of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Chattogram.

The 32-year-old leader was laid to rest on Saturday beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near Dhaka University mosque amid tight security. Tens of thousands attended the funeral prayers, during which anti-India slogans were raised.

Following the funeral, Inqilab Mancha issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government, demanding visible progress in the arrest of those responsible for Hadi’s killing. (Agencies)