Four people killed in Bangladesh during protests against visit of India’s Modi

1 / 3
Activists of the Hifazat-e Islam group clash with police (foreground) in Chittagong on March 26, 2021 during a demonstration against Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh. (AFP)
2 / 3
Activists from Islamist groups clash with the police as they protest against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dhaka on March 26, 2021. (AFP)
3 / 3
Police take cover as activists from Islamist groups clash with police during a protest against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dhaka on March 26, 2021. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 26 March 2021
Follow

Four people killed in Bangladesh during protests against visit of India’s Modi

  • Modi arrived in the capital Dhaka for a visit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence
  • Protests also flared in the capital Dhaka, where dozens of people, including two journalists, were injured in clashes with police

COX’S BAZAR: At least four people were killed in the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong on Friday after police fired at protesters during a demonstration against a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police officials said.
“We had to fire teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them as they entered a police station and carried out extensive vandalism,” Rafiqul Islam, the police official told Reuters, referring to protesters.
Modi arrived in the capital Dhaka for a two-day visit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.
The protesters in Chittagong were from the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an Islamist group opposed to the visit of Modi, who critics say has been pushing a Hindu-first agenda in India.
Mohammad Alauddin, another police official in Chittagong, said that eight people were brought to a hospital in the city with gunshot wounds, of which four succumbed to their injuries
Protests also flared in the capital Dhaka, where dozens of people, including two journalists, were injured in clashes with police, witnesses said.


Iranian women’s football team member changes mind on asylum in Australia

Updated 2 sec ago
Follow

Iranian women’s football team member changes mind on asylum in Australia

Sydney: An Iranian women’s football team member who sought sanctuary in Australia has changed her mind after speaking with teammates, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Wednesday.
Seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s football team had claimed asylum in Australia after they were branded “traitors” at home over a pre-match protest.
One player and one support member sought sanctuary before the side flew out of Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening in emotional scenes, joining five other athletes who had already claimed asylum.
Burke said in parliament on Wednesday that he had since been advised one of the group “had spoken to some of the team mates that left and changed their mind.”
“She had been advised by her team mates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy,” he said.
“As a result of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.”
The remaining players have been moved from a safe house to another location, he said.
The traveling squad arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning after flying out from Sydney, AFP photos at Kuala Lumpur International Airport showed.
There were fears male minders traveling with the team might try to prevent other women seeking asylum.
Burke said each player was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to mull the offer in private.
Australian officials had “made sure this was her decision” he said, referring to the Iran team member who had changed her mind.