Why were there protests in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh turned into a violent turmoil as soon as the news of arrival of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi broke out in the country. PM Narendra Modi went to Dhaka, Bangladesh to take part in Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee Independence day celebrations. At least 12 people were killed over the weekend as demonstrators clashed with the police officials during the protests called by Islamists’ groups against PM Narendra Modi’s visit.A series of rallies and demonstrations opposing the arrival of PM Narendra Modi commenced on March 19, 2021 from a prominent mosque in the capital city, Dhaka. The protestors shouted the slogans and accused Narendra Modi of committing crimes against humanity during the anti-muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002. The demonstrators also agitated against India’s alleged anti-muslim policies and interference of India in the politics of Bangladesh. The protestors attacked a train in Brahmanbaria and targeted several hindu temples in the city. According to an analysed article published in The Hindu, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh was the main group behind the violent demonstrations in the country against PM Narendra Modi.Hefazat-e-Islam is an organization of anti-India radical Islamists which was formed in 2010 when the country was taking measures to remove the Islamisation of its polity by military rulers in the late 1970s and 1980s. The recent protests were major action by Hefazat-e-Islam after Junaid Babu Nagari took over the radical group in November, 2020. Junaid Babu Nagari was trying mark his action, people familiar with the matter said.Babu Nagari is Hadith scholar from Pakistan’s Jamia Uloom-e-Islamia where he studied for four years to elevate himself as the chief of hardline Islamists group after the previous chief, Shah Ahmed Shafi died in September, 2020.Hefazat is a platform for Sunni clerics of Bangladesh’s vast Quasi madrassa network and their students who has their headquarters in Chittagong. The group is financed by Salafi-Wahabi Islamists in Saudi Arabia, as reported by The Economists in 2017. The radical group has announced a nationwide strike call April 2, 2021 to protest the police crackdown.During the visit of PM Narendra Modi to Bangladesh, the two leaders reflected on strengthening ties and partnership based on trust, equality, and understanding bilateral strategic partnership. PM Modi also recalled his struggles for independence of Bangladesh also saluted soldiers of Indian Army who stood with the brothers and sisters of the country during hard times. Bangladesh’s PM Hasina Sheikh extended her thankfulness to PM Modi for gracing the occasion with his presence even in the coronavirus pandamic. The protests might be little tough for Dhaka as well as New Delhi amidst the good ties of the country.

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