Bangladesh-India Relations Are Back on the Brink |
The murder of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, who had participated in the July Uprising, which resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, has triggered violent chaos in Bangladesh.
Hadi was a potential candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections; he was expected to contest from the capital, Dhaka. He was known for his anti-India politics.
Hadi was shot in the head on December 12, and succumbed to his injuries on December 18. What was initially seen as a tragic incident of political violence in Bangladesh has, within days of the attack and especially with his death, morphed into something far more consequential. The incident took on regional connotations after allegations were leveled against Hasina’s Awami League and India.
The killing is said to have been carried out by an AL activist, who, according to rumors, has fled to India.
The attack on Hadi occurred a day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the general elections.
News of Hadi’s death has triggered a wave of violent chaos in Bangladesh. On the night of December 18, an angry mob attacked the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, two of the country’s leading newspapers, known for their progressive and liberal editorial stance. The attackers destroyed property and engaged in arson.
They also vandalized Chhayanaut, a renowned cultural institution known for promoting Bengali music, culture, and tradition. The attackers claimed the institutions were linked to India and supportive of the ousted AL.
In Chittagong, protesters also demonstrated and threw stones at the office of the Indian Assistant High Commission, prompting police to intervene and disperse the crowd near the mission.
Targeting of India and India-related institutions has escalated over the past week. Hasnat Abdullah, a top leader of the National Citizen Party, a party that was recently formed by students who led the July Uprising,........