Modi’s Visit to Bangladesh sparks outrage

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday concluded his two-day official visit to Bangladesh, a trip that sparked both violent protests and enthusiasm that relations between the two neighbors will continue to grow.

Four people were killed after police fired on protesters; who they said attacked a police station in the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong on Friday during a demonstration against a visit to the country by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dozens were also hurt in the capital Dhaka; where police used rubber bullets and teargas in clashes with violent protesters, witnesses said.

In Chittagong; thousands of supporters of an Islamist group; that accuses Modi of alienating minority Muslims in India; streamed out of mosques after prayers to register their protest against his visit, police official Rafiqul Islam said.

“We had to fire teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them as they entered a police station and carried out extensive vandalism,” he told Reuters, referring to protesters.

The protesters also criticized Hasina for inviting Modi; saying the two countries have many unresolved disputes; including the killing of Bangladeshis by Indian border guards. India says such casualties happen when Bangladeshis are involved in cross-border smuggling and attempt to cross the border illegally.

Modi arrived on Friday to join celebrations of Bangladesh’s 50th anniversary of independence; but the visit was overshadowed by violent protests in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere. At least four people were killed and 40 injured in clashes between protesters and security officials.

Critics accuse Modi’s Hindu-nationalist party of stoking religious polarization in India and discriminating against minorities, particularly Muslims.

In recent weeks; demonstrators in Muslim-majority Bangladesh had urged the Indian leader not to visit and criticized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for inviting him.