Key points

  • Pro-Hasina activists staged nationwide demonstrations in Bangladesh following the former leader's request for a passport to return from exile in India.
  • Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets, while a bus driver died from smoke inhalation after a vehicle was set on fire in Faridpur.
  • Bangladeshi Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed warned against instability, while a BCL leader denied involvement in the violent incidents.

According to BBC News, violence erupted across Bangladesh as supporters of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina staged protests demanding her return to the country, leading to clashes with security forces and widespread transport disruptions.

Key details

The demonstrations mark the first organized show of force by the banned student wing of the Awami League, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), since Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August 2024 following a massive uprising, BBC News reported. Protesters set up roadblocks with burning tyres and torched several passenger vehicles in various parts of the country. BBC News stated that a 60-year-old bus driver died from smoke inhalation after his vehicle was targeted in Faridpur, while about 200 protesters briefly blocked traffic on the Padma bridge. Local media cited by BBC News reported that dozens of crude bombs exploded in Dhaka and other areas.

Official and political responses followed the unrest. Bangladeshi Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said in statements reported by BBC News that any attempt to destabilize the country from across the border would not be allowed to succeed. Conversely, a senior BCL leader in exile told BBC News that their supporters were not responsible for the violence and that they believe in peaceful protests.

Context and impact

Sheikh Hasina fled to neighboring India two years ago after a 15-year reign, which opposition parties claimed was marked by the jailing of rivals and widespread rights abuses—charges she consistently denied, according to BBC News. The United Nations estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed during the 2024 anti-government protests, largely by gunfire from security forces. Following her departure, the Awami League was banned and barred from the February general election, and a special tribunal subsequently sentenced her to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, a trial she dismissed as politically motivated.

Summary and what next

With the former prime minister seeking a passport to return from exile, the recent unrest highlights the deep political polarization remaining in Bangladesh. It remains unconfirmed how authorities will handle further demonstrations or whether the former leader's return bid will prompt additional security measures.