Protests Erupt Across West Bengal

On Saturday, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and allied right-wing organizations held demonstrations throughout Kolkata and surrounding areas. The protests were a response to reported acts of arson, looting, and killings targeting the Hindu minority in neighboring Bangladesh.

Widespread Disruption and Political Impact

The demonstrations caused significant disruptions, including in the Sodepur area where Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy was forced to abandon his vehicle and walk approximately one kilometer after protesters blocked a major road. Similar scenes unfolded in the CIT Road-Beckbagan area, Howrah, and other parts of the state, with groups of saffron-clad youths halting traffic for about thirty minutes. In North 24 Parganas district, around 100 activists from the BJP's youth wing burned tires on the roadway and chanted slogans criticizing Bangladesh's interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and Islamist fundamentalists.

Triggering Incident and Broader Context

The rallies were directly prompted by the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district on December 18. Das was killed over blasphemy allegations, and his body was subsequently set ablaze. This event occurred amid wider political unrest and riots in Bangladesh in mid-December 2025, following the death of political spokesperson Osman Hadi.

Political Reactions and Condemnations

BJP leaders issued strong statements during the protests. Jamal Siddiqui, National President of the BJP Minority Morcha, asserted that radicalization in Bangladesh contradicts true Islamic principles. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation and that India would not hesitate to "teach Bangladesh a lesson" if required.

West Bengal BJP leader Tarunjyoti Tewari described the violence as part of a troubling pattern where accusations lead to executions and minority status is criminalized. Meanwhile, the interim government of Bangladesh issued a firm condemnation of the lynching, stating there is no place for such violence in the country.