Fresh clashes erupt in Bangladesh over PM Modi’s visit, 11 dead till now

Fresh clashes between police and protesters injured a dozen people in Bangladesh on Sunday, reported news agency AFP. The incident occurred on the third day of protest by Islamist demonstrators across Bangladesh, a Muslim majority nation, against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

On the first day, Friday, of PM Modi’s visit, five people died, another six died on Saturday after police shot at protesters in several major cities in Bangladesh with a population of 168 million people. 

The protests were largely carried out by Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, against PM Modi’s visit as people accused him of stoking communal violence against Muslims in India. Modi’s visit to Bangladesh came as the nation marked 50 years of independence from Pakistan. 

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“Action, action, direct action,” chanted Hefazet supporters in Narayanganj just outside the capital Dhaka, and blocked the key highway linking the national capital with the port city of Chittagong. 

Chanting anti-Modi slogans, calling on authorities to investigate the shootings at protesters, demonstrators, in hundreds, burnt furniture and tyres on roads. 

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets after the protesters barricaded parts of the highway. A police spokesman told AFP they had since left the road.

At least 15 people were injured in Narayanganj, cited Prothom Alo, Bangladesh’s biggest Bengali-language daily.

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Protests were also held in the northeastern city of Sylhet, the eastern district of Brahmanbaria and in Bosila, a Dhaka suburb, but there were no reports of violence, local media reported.

As Bangladesh celebrated independence, human rights groups criticised the government for what they described as growing authoritarianism, including forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Other groups — including students, leftists and other Islamist outfits — had also staged protests against Modi’s visit on Friday and Saturday.