The July Oikya platform, comprising participants of the July 2024 uprising, has launched a protest march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, demanding the repatriation of fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others allegedly involved in crimes against humanity during the uprising.
The march commenced at 3 pm from Rampura Bridge amid heavy police presence, with barricades erected near Hossain Market in Middle Badda to control movement.
In a press release issued earlier this week, July Oikya described the march as a symbolic reaffirmation of the spirit of the July mass uprising and a call for justice against those held responsible for atrocities committed during that period. The platform also condemned what it termed “ongoing conspiracies” by Indian-backed political parties, media outlets, and government officials within Bangladesh.
Organisers say the march includes patriotic ex-military officers, student leaders from DUCSU and JUCSU, and representatives from universities, colleges, madrasas, schools, and various civil society groups. July Oikya leaders are spearheading the procession, which they say embodies a national stand against foreign interference.
The statement accused India of sheltering individuals responsible for mass killings during the July uprising and linked recent violent incidents – including the shooting of Dhaka-8 parliamentary candidate Sharif Osman Hadi – to what it described as continued external meddling. “We will not accept any form of domination in Bangladesh 2.0,” the release asserted.
July Oikya issued an ultimatum to both the Indian government and Bangladesh’s interim administration, warning that failure to repatriate the accused would render Delhi and specific Bangladeshi government departments “responsible for subsequent consequences.” The platform called on students and citizens from all professions and political backgrounds to join the march in defence of national sovereignty.
As the protest unfolded, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park announced an early closure at 2 pm, citing the “ongoing security situation.” A notice posted by IVAC stated that all applicants with appointments for the day would be rescheduled.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, on Wednesday to express “strong concerns” over the deteriorating security environment in Dhaka. Indian officials highlighted reports of extremist elements planning to create unrest around Indian diplomatic premises.
“The activities of certain extremist elements who have announced plans to target the Indian Mission in Dhaka are deeply worrying,” the MEA said, rejecting what it called a “false narrative” being propagated about recent events in Bangladesh. It lamented the lack of a thorough investigation by the interim government and the absence of meaningful evidence-sharing with India.
Reaffirming India’s “close and friendly relations” with the people of Bangladesh—rooted in the 1971 Liberation War and reinforced through development cooperation—the MEA reiterated its support for “peace, stability, and credible, inclusive elections” in Bangladesh. It also stressed that the interim government must uphold its diplomatic obligations by ensuring the safety of all foreign missions on its soil.