DHAKA – Dozens of people were injured in Bangladesh after police used teargas and rubber bullets force to disperse protesters gathered in the capitalDhaka against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier today, Modi arrived in Bangladesh on his first foreign visit sincethe COVID-19 pandemic surfaced to attend the golden jubilee celebrations ofBangladesh’s independence and the birth centenary of its founder, SheikhMujibur Rahman.
In Dhaka, Modi was received by Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, the daughterof Mujibur Rehman, at the airport.
The protests, which are mounting across the country since last week, arebeing held by students and other citizens, who criticized the governmentfor inviting a leader who they say has blatantly persecuted Muslims inIndia.
The demonstrators said that the Modi had heightened religious tensions andincited anti-Muslim violence in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 when1,000 had been killed. Modi was the chief minister Gujrat when the deadlyreligious riots sparked.
Read Top Stories
Reports said that more than 40 protesters were injured in police crackdown.It is also being reported that the Bangladeshi government has restrictedsocial media and mobile services to control the anti-Modi protests.
Besides holding meeting with various persons, the Indian premier addressedthe main function of the day at Dhaka’s Parade Ground where he thankedHasina, President Abdul Hamid for inviting him to the event.
Earlier, in his departure statement issued yesterday, PM Modi said: “Myvisit will not only be an occasion to convey appreciation for Bangladesh’sremarkable economic and developmental strides under Prime Minister SheikhHasina’s visionary leadership, but also to commit India’s abiding supportfor these achievements”.
