Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh (2021)
As part of our mission to document, expose, and seek justice for international crimes and systemic human rights abuses, Subichar Trust is conducting three high-impact fact-finding enquiries across different regions of Bangladesh. Each investigation is grounded in survivor testimony, forensic documentation, and legal analysis to support future accountability mechanisms and international advocacy.
Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh (Incident of 2021)
Massacre of Peaceful Protesters During Modi’s State Visit
Certainly. Here’s an expanded version with added context on legal developments, eyewitness accounts, and broader political implications:
Background
In March 2021, Bangladesh prepared to mark two landmark events: the golden jubilee of its independence and the centenary of its founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As part of the commemorations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to attend. However, this triggered widespread unrest across the country, spearheaded by the conservative Islamic group Hefazat-e-Islam and joined by opposition activists, student groups, and civil society organizations. Critics accused Modi of anti-Muslim incitement, particularly in relation to the 2002 Gujarat riots during his tenure as Chief Minister. Many viewed his presence at such a symbolic national event as an affront to Bangladesh’s pluralist values and a betrayal of the country’s moral foundations.
Timeline
Protests began to take shape around March 19, escalating significantly on March 26 when clashes erupted at the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka during Friday prayers. Demonstrators waved shoes as a symbol of protest against Modi’s visit. In response, members of the ruling Awami League’s student and youth wings, along with police forces, violently dispersed the protesters. The unrest quickly spread across the country, particularly in Chattogram, Brahmanbaria, Narayanganj, and Kishoreganj. From March 26 to 29, heavy-handed crackdowns unfolded, with security forces deploying rubber bullets, tear gas, and, in many cases, live ammunition. The worst violence occurred in Brahmanbaria, where protestors allegedly set fire to public buildings, leading to intense retaliation by law enforcement.
Casualties
While Hefazat-e-Islam claimed over 17 deaths and 500 injuries, independent verification confirmed at least 14 deaths, with 10 fatalities in Brahmanbaria alone. Human rights monitors documented indiscriminate use of force, including live bullets fired at unarmed protestors. Eyewitnesses and victims’ families reported that many of the deceased were not engaged in violence at the time of their deaths. Forensic analysis and victim testimonies gathered by civil society organizations, including emerging documentation initiatives, suggest patterns of excessive force, extrajudicial actions, and targeted repression—particularly in areas with strong Islamist or opposition political presence.
Reaction and Legal Developments
The aftermath saw mass arrests, with hundreds of protestors detained under the Digital Security Act and other sweeping legal instruments criticized by rights groups as repressive. Legal support for victims has been limited, with many families too fearful to pursue cases due to alleged police intimidation. No significant investigations have been initiated into the conduct of law enforcement. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the government’s disproportionate response and called for independent probes. The crackdown has since been interpreted as part of a broader pattern of political suppression under the Awami League government, where dissent—especially linked to Islamist or opposition voices—is often met with militarized policing and legal persecution. The protests also revealed deepening civil-military entanglement in civilian law enforcement and an increasing trend of conflating national identity with party loyalty.
Fact-finding by Subichar
Our enquiry has so far documented:
- 26 extrajudicial killings, including by live ammunition of police
- 17 victims with verified testimonies, witness accounts, and photographic evidence
- A pattern of state-sanctioned lethal force against unarmed demonstrators, particularly from religious and politically unaffiliated backgrounds
This ongoing inquiry underscores the need for independent scrutiny of crowd-control policies and the suppression of dissent in Bangladesh.
Current Status
Ongoing
