Anti-Modi Protests In Bangladesh: 40 Injured In Thursday's Violent Clashes With Police In Dhaka, 33 Arrested

PM Modi has reached Bangladesh and was received by PM Sheikh Hasina. PM Modi's visit to Bangladesh is to attend the celebration of that country's 50th year of liberation from Pakistan.

Image: student council clash with police during a demonstration to protest against PM Narendra Modi, in Dhaka on March 25, 2021. AFP

At least 40 people have been injured during a demonstration in Dhaka University campus against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Bangladesh to attend the celebration of that country's 50th year of liberation from Pakistan and the centenary year of its founder Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Premier Sheikh Hasina's father. 

The injured include two journalists, and two pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) workers.

Police said the protest got out of hand as demonstrators marched in the capital Dhaka, with many throwing rocks and stones at officers, injuring at least four.

"We fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them. There were 200 protesters. We have also arrested 33 people for violence," police official Syed Nurul Islam told AFP.

A spokesperson for the march said 2,000 mainly student protesters joined the demonstration.

Activists of Left student organisations, who were demonstrating on Thursday against Modi's visit, allegedly came under attack from the BCL at Dhaka University campus.

PM Modi arrived in Dhaka on Friday and was welcomed by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. PM Modi's visit will cap Dhaka's 10-day celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of its independence from Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Jubo Odhikar Parishad activists clashed with police in the city's Motijheel area while protesting against PM Modi's visit.

Left student organisations under the banner of 'Progressive Student Alliance' were demonstrating at the VC Chattar area of the campus protesting against Modi's visit.

The Left organisations alleged the ruling party student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists carried out the attack on the demonstrators around 8 p.m. on Thursday evening.

All the injured are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The clashes ensued when the law enforcers obstructed the demonstrators.