Desk Report: Police stopped a march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday, after activists of Jatiya Biplobi Parishad tried to gherao the mission demanding the expulsion of High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi.

The march started around 11:30 am from Shahjadpur bus stand area near Confidence Centre and moved towards Gulshan. When it reached Bashtala on Pragati Sarani in Shahjadpur at around 11:45 am, police put up barbed-wire barricades and stopped the procession from proceeding further.

Organizers said the demonstration was called to protest border killings of Bangladeshis, withdrawal of water from common rivers including the Teesta, unequal agreements and what they described as India’s refusal to return Sheikh Hasina to face trial for the July killings. They also demanded an end to border killings, cancellation of unequal deals and fair share of river waters.

Speaking at the spot, convener of the organization Khomeni Ihsan said they had gone to demand the expulsion of the High Commissioner but were not allowed to reach the High Commission. He announced an ultimatum till December 16. He said if their demands including expulsion of Dinesh Trivedi, return of Sheikh Hasina, stopping border killings, cancellation of unequal agreements and ensuring fair share of water are not met by then, a movement titled Bharat Khedao Andolan will begin from December 17, along with a call to boycott Indian products across the country.

He alleged that India has been sheltering people accused of killing patriotic Bangladeshis, and claimed that several accused in different cases including those linked to the July uprising are in India. He also referred to the recovery of the body of former air force official K M Tahsif Sauri from the Turag river on Wednesday, who he claimed had filmed Hasina’s departure on August 5.

Khomeni Ihsan said after August 5, they had expected a change in India’s attitude towards Bangladesh, but no apology has been offered to the people of Bangladesh or to the families of those killed in July. He accused High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, who he described as a BJP leader, of behaving like a viceroy and moving from ministry to ministry.

He also alleged that the current BNP government is indirectly facilitating Indian interests through Japan, citing use of Matarbari deep sea port for transit to India and awarding metro rail related works to Indian companies at higher cost through JICA. He claimed Japan’s Big-B initiative is dragging Bangladesh into an anti-China alignment with India.

The leader said Bangladesh should not be turned into a vassal state or a playing field for big powers and called upon China and the Muslim world to come forward with investment and support to help Bangladesh overcome economic and security challenges.

During the program, activists chanted slogans such as Bharat er Adhipatya, Rukhe Dao Janogon and Delhi na Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka, while keeping one side of the road open for traffic.

Among those present were eye specialist Dr. Farid Uddin, member secretary of the Parishad Dr. Nabil Ahmad, assistant member secretaries Abdus Salam and Galib Ihsan, central members Sakib Samin, Saidul Islam and Joynal Abedin, convener of Biplobi Chhatra Parishad Abdul Wahed and assistant member secretary Ariful Islam.