2021 Bangladesh Anti-Modi protests | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | 19–29 March 2021 | ||
Location | |||
Caused by | Arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangladesh during the country's celebrations of its 50th anniversary of its independence. | ||
Goals | To cancel invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi | ||
Methods | Demonstrations, stone pelting, rioting | ||
Resulted in | Riots and protests suppressed [1] | ||
Parties | |||
| |||
Lead figures | |||
Casualties and losses | |||
|
A series of rallies, demonstrations, and blockades opposing the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were held in Bangladesh from 19 to 29 March, on the celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan. Accusing Narendra Modi of committing crimes against humanity during the 2002 Gujarat riots, the protesters agitated against what they alleged were India's anti-Muslim policies and India's interference in Bangladeshi politics. [3] [4] Protesters demanded the cancellation of the Bangladesh government's invitation to the Indian Prime Minister. The otherwise peaceful protests turned violent when the protesters were attacked by the supporters of the ruling Awami League party along with a crackdown by the law-enforcement agencies, causing the deaths of several protesters throughout the last week of March 2021 in Bangladesh. [5] Initially launched by progressive student organizations including the Bangladesh Students Union, Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad, and the Socialist Students' Front, the demonstrations were later joined by the Islamic group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. [6]
The deadly conflict chiefly began when supporters of Awami League tried to stop the protesters from waving their shoes as a sign of discontent to Modi at Baitul Mukarram mosque, Dhaka. This resulted in violent clashes from both sides. After the incident, the violence then spread to several key districts in the country, leading to damages on public properties. [7] [8] [9]
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. [10] After the killings of its supporters on Friday, Hefazat called the strike protesting the killing of its activists by police, and the attack on them by supporters of the ruling party on Sunday, 28 March. "Police opened fire on our peaceful supporters," the group's organizing secretary Azizula Haque told a rally in Chittagong. "We will not let the blood of our brothers and sisters go in vain." [11] As of now, the clashes resulted in at least 14 people killed and many injured with Brahmanbaria alone accounted for 10 killed. [8]
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. [12]
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. [13] [14] 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. [15]
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, [16] [17] declared to deal the protesters and threatened to 'peel off the skin' whoever protests. [18]
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. [10]
On 28 March, after the strike, Hefazat leaders claimed 17 people died across the country, with around 500 people receiving injuries during the protests, in a press conference. According to their claim 12 people died in Brahmanbaria, 4 at Hathazari in Chittagong and one at Signboard area in Narayanganj. [42] [43] Local news outlets, however, have reported 14 death counts as of March 28, 2021. [27] [28] [44]
During and after the protests, opposition activists were detained and kept in secret detentions. According to the activists they were tortured in custody. Shakil Uzzaman and Mina Al Mamun, the joint-convenors of Bangladesh Chatra Odhikar Parishad, were picked up in suspicious circumstances from the capital Dhaka's Savar area on March 26. On the next day, the joint convenor of Bangladesh Jubo Odhikar Parishad, Nadim Hasan, was abducted from Lalbag area by people who identified themselves as police. [45] Two leaders of the same organization were picked up respectively from Rajshahi and Sylhet reportedly by law enforcers and remained untraceable, on March 28. [46] After more than 24 hours of detention at unknown places, Nadim Hasan, Shakil Uzzaman, Mina Al Mamun, and Md Mazharul Islam were placed in court and charged with violence. More than 100 Islamists were arrested by Bangladesh police during 12 April - 19 April over alleged participation in the violence. [47] [48]
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. [49]
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." [10]
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. [50]
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. [51] [ better source needed ]
Prominent Hefajat leader Abdual Awal resigned, the decision was said to have been taken due to difference in opinion with other Hefajat leaders during the protests. [52]
Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir, popularly known as Chhatrashibir or Shibir, is an Islamist student organisation based in Bangladesh. It was established on 6 February 1977. The organisation functions as the de facto student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, with numerous former leaders advancing to hold prominent leadership roles within the party.
Bangladesh Chhatra League ; abbr.BSL/BCL), formerly known as the East Pakistan Student League, simply called the Chhatra League, is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and designated as a terrorist organisation by the Interim Government of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatradal, popularly known as Chatradal or Chatra Dal, is a Bangladeshi student organisation affiliated with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Many of the top BNP leaders and policy-makers today were once closely associated with JCD and developed as student leaders.
The 1969 East Pakistan uprising was a democratic political uprising in East Pakistan. It was led by the students backed by various political parties such as the communist party of East Pakistan, the Awami League and the National Awami Party and their student wings, and the cultural fronts against Muhammad Ayub Khan, the president of Pakistan in protest of the oppressive military rule, political repressions, Agartala Conspiracy Case and the incarceration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other Bengali nationalists.
Shah Ahmad Shafi was a Bangladeshi Sunni Islamic scholar, the chief of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Rector of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari and also the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board. He was born in 1930 in Rangunia, Chittagong and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband.
General elections were held in Bangladesh on 5 January 2014, in accordance with the constitutional requirement that elections must take place within the 90-day period before the expiration of the term of the Jatiya Sangshad on 24 January 2014.
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh is a far-right conservative-islamic advocacy group consisted mostly of hard-line religious teachers and students. The group is mainly based on qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh. In 2013, they submitted a 13-point charter to the Government of Bangladesh, which included the demand for the enactment of a blasphemy law.
The Shapla Square protests, also known as the siege of Dhaka, Operation Shapla, Operation Flash Out by security forces, was the protests and subsequent shootings of 5 and 6 May 2013 at Shapla Square, located in the Motijheel district, the main financial area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The protests were organized by the Islamist advocacy group, Hefazat-e Islam, who were demanding the enactment of a blasphemy law. The government responded to the protests by cracking down on the protesters using a combined force drawn from the police, Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters out of Shapla Square.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh, abbreviated as IAB, is a major Deobandi Islamist political party in Bangladesh. It was founded in 1987 by Fazlul Karim as Islami Shashontantra Andolan, and took its current name in 2008. The party maintains distance from both of the dominant parties in Bangladesh, Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party. In the recent years, the party has gradually done well in the local government elections. The number of votes of the party has increased also in the national polls.
Bangladesh Statue of Justice controversy is a controversy that surrounds the building of a statue of justice at the premises of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. The controversy centers on the statue's depiction of the Themis, the Greek goddess of divine law, wearing a sari. Islamic groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and Bangladesh Awami Olama League consider the statue to be idolatry and have taken legal actions calling for its removal.
Government Madrasah-e-Alia is a government madrasa located in Bakshibazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since its founding, the madrasah has been playing a significant role in imparting and spreading Islamic education.
Sarbadaliya Chhatra Sangram Parishad was a student organisation that was formed to demand autonomy of East Pakistan and the removal of Ayub Khan from power. It also called for the restoration of democracy in 1969.
R. A. M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury is a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a former minister of housing and public works of Bangladesh and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Brahmanbaria-3 constituency.
Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi politician and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Sunamganj-3 constituency during 2005–2006. He was elected a member of parliament for the first time in July 2005 after the death of incumbent Abdus Samad Azad, a Awami League presidium member.
Mamunul Haque is a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and the Joint Secretary-General of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, emerged as an Islamist leader in the late 2010s, particularly following the deadliest events of the Siege of Dhaka. With an ancestral heritage of religious scholarship and political leadership from his father, Azizul Haque, he succeeded his father both as a Sheikh al-Hadith at Jamia Rahmania and as the Secretary-General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. He is best known for his oratory skills and his advocacy for the establishment of an Islamic state and the integration of Islamic principles into government policies. In 2020 and 2021, he led opposition to the construction of a sculpture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and organized anti-Modi protests, which made him the undisputed Hefazat leader overnight. He faced legal challenges, including 41 cases, one of which was a treason charge, and has been imprisoned three times under the Sheikh Hasina regime. Following the fall of this regime, he participated in discussions with the President and the Chief of Army Staff, which eventually led to the formation of the Yunus ministry, which included a member from Hefazat, A F M Khalid Hossain. In addition to his political and religious activities, he has served as an adjunct professor at Asian University of Bangladesh and is the editor of Rahmani Paigam, a monthly magazine published in Dhaka.
From 13 to 19 October 2021, Muslim mobs instigated communal violence against Hindu communities across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festival, in response to a viral video where Quran was kept under a temple idol's feet. More than 50 temples and makeshift worship arrangements were vandalised all over Bangladesh.
Towhidi Muslim Janata is a term that refers to any group of people that forms an informal islamist organization in Bangladesh. These groups are mainly known for violent attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Chhatra League, formerly known as East Pakistan Student League, often simply called the Chhatra League, is a students' political organisation in Bangladesh, which was banned by the government on 23 October 2024. The student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League has been repeatedly accused of using torture, extortion, violence, forced prostitution and killings to instill fear.
The 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement was a series of anti-government and pro-democracy protests in Bangladesh, spearheaded primarily by university students. Initially focused on restructuring quota-based systems for government job recruitment, the movement expanded against what many perceive as an authoritarian government when they carried out the July massacre of protestors and civilians, most of whom were students. Started as a student movement, the movement later escalated into a fully-fledged mass uprising known as the Student–People's uprising.
On February 19, 2013, Shah Ahmad Shafi, leader of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, published an open letter to the public and the government on the front page of Amar Desh. In the letter, he condemned the ongoing Shahbag protests, claiming they were tied to anti-Islamic activities. He accused the Ahmadiyya community and an anti-Islamic online group of involvement, naming individuals such as Shahriar Kabir, Muntassir Mamoon, Zafar Iqbal, Gholam Rabbani, and Ajoy Roy as responsible. Shafi called on the government to take action against these activities and urged the public to speak out against them. This letter marked Hefazat-e-Islam's entry into the political landscape, initiating the Islamist response to the Shahbag protests and leading to the development of its 13-point demand.