Violence Erupts in Bangladesh Over Ousted Leader

Security forces in Bangladesh deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators demanding the return of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, sparking widespread unrest and clashes. The protests marked the first major coordinated demonstration by loyalists since Hasina fled to India two years ago following a massive uprising that ended her fifteen-year administration.

Demonstrations erupted across various regions, with protesters attempting to block roads using burning tires and disrupting traffic. In the Gopalganj district, a police vehicle was set ablaze after members of the banned student wing of the Awami League clashed directly with law enforcement. Authorities reported multiple passenger vehicles burned across the nation, resulting in the death of a sixty-year-old bus driver due to smoke inhalation in Faridpur. Additionally, roughly two hundred individuals briefly obstructed traffic on the Padma bridge connecting Dhaka to the southwest.

Local media documented numerous crude bomb detonations in the capital and other areas over recent days. The demonstrations followed Hasina's recent request for a passport from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, signaling her intent to travel back despite facing a death penalty sentence handed down by a special tribunal last year in absentia. Government officials rejected her passport application, labeling her a fugitive criminal and demanding her extradition from India.

Protests erupted across Bangladesh as supporters of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina demanded her return from exile in India.

Senior administration figures strongly condemned the demonstrations and warned against foreign meddling. Meanwhile, representatives for the student wing maintained that their organization favored peaceful assemblies and blamed unknown agitators for the violence. The United Nations previously estimated that up to fourteen hundred people died during the civil unrest of 2024, predominantly from security force gunfire, while the Awami League remains barred from political participation.

Why it matters

The rising tensions highlight deep political fractures in Bangladesh following the transition of power, directly impacting regional stability between Dhaka and New Delhi. With officials refusing to grant travel documents and demanding extradition under existing treaties, the standoff over the former leader's potential return affects diplomatic relations and domestic security across South Asia.