Bangladesh Unrest Prompts Increased Security at Indian Diplomatic Offices

Security Tightened at Indian High Commission and Visa Centre in Bangladesh After Sharif Osman Hadi’s Death.

Following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, security has been reinforced at the Indian Assistant High Commission office and visa application centre in Bangladesh. Forces were deployed from Friday morning at the High Commission and the Assistant High Commissioner’s residence in Upashahar, as well as at the visa centre in Shobhanighat, to prevent any exploitation of the situation, said Saiful Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media), Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

Protests by Inqilab Mancha earlier at the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar saw demonstrators chanting slogans against what they described as “Indian dominance.” Hadi, 32, a key figure in last year’s movement that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, was shot on December 12 during an election campaign in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and died while being treated in Singapore.

His funeral on Saturday near Dhaka University mosque, next to the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, saw thousands paying respects amid tight security. Attendees raised slogans including, “Delhi or Dhaka – Dhaka, Dhaka” and “brother Hadi’s blood will not go in vain.”

Following the funeral, Inqilab Mancha issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government, demanding action against those responsible for Hadi’s killing.