Violence erupts in Bangladesh as ousted PM's supporters stage protest

What the report says

Police in Bangladesh used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up protests by supporters of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, according to the BBC. The demonstrations were organised by activists linked to the banned student wing of her Awami League party and centred on demands that she be allowed to return from exile in India. The unrest was reported in several parts of the country, including Gopalganj, where a police vehicle was burned and clashes broke out with security forces.

The BBC said the protests began a day after Hasina stated that she had asked for a passport to travel back to Bangladesh. Traffic was disrupted by roadblocks, burning tyres and attacks on vehicles, while a bus driver died in Faridpur after smoke inhalation from a fire. Protesters also briefly blocked the Padma bridge, a major route linking Dhaka with the southwest. Local media reported crude bomb explosions in Dhaka and other areas in the days leading up to the unrest.

The episode reflects continuing political tension after Hasina fled to India in 2024 following mass anti-government protests and was later convicted in absentia by a Bangladeshi tribunal. The BBC noted that her party has been banned from electoral activity and that the government has rejected her request to return, calling for her extradition instead. Her supporters deny responsibility for the violence and say they are holding peaceful protests.