Security Tightened at Indian Assistant High Commission and Visa Centre in Bangladesh Amid Unrest

Security Tightened at Indian High Commission and Visa Centre in Bangladesh Amid Unrest

In the wake of heightened tensions 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.

Security measures were stepped up from Friday morning at the High Commission office and the residence of the Assistant High Commissioner in Upashahar, as well as at the visa centre in Shobhanighat, PTI reported. Forces remained deployed throughout the night to ensure no third party could exploit the situation, said Saiful Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media), Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

Protests by Inqilab Mancha had taken place earlier at the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar, with demonstrators chanting slogans against what they described as “Indian dominance.”

Hadi, 32, was a key figure in last year’s movement that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government and was also a candidate for the general elections scheduled on February 12 this year. He was shot by masked gunmen on December 12 during an election campaign in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday.

Following his death, violent incidents were reported across Bangladesh, including stone-pelting at the residence of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Chattogram.

Hadi was laid to rest on Saturday next to the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University mosque, amid tight security. Thousands attended the funeral, chanting slogans such as, “Delhi or Dhaka – Dhaka, Dhaka” and “brother Hadi’s blood will not go in vain.”

After the funeral, Inqilab Mancha issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government, demanding visible progress in arresting those responsible for Hadi’s killing.