DHAKA JAN 08 : Bangladesh police halted a march organized by the National Citizens Party (NCP) toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday, as protesters sought to demonstrate against an alleged border killing that occurred 15 years ago. The incident highlights continuing tensions between the two neighboring countries over border security issues.
The student-led NCP party had organized what they termed an ‘Anti-Hegemony March’ demanding justice for the alleged killing of a Bangladeshi teenager at the India-Bangladesh border. The NCP’s Dhaka Metropolitan North branch had called for the demonstration to mark the 15th anniversary of the death of Felani, a Bangladeshi teenager who was allegedly killed in firing by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in 2011.
NCP leaders and activists began their march toward the Indian High Commission located in Baridhara, Dhaka, but were stopped by police barricades before they could reach the diplomatic mission. The security forces prevented the protesters from advancing further, blocking their path to the High Commission compound.
Unable to proceed to their intended destination, NCP leaders and activists gathered on Kurilmukhi Road, where they stood chanting anti-India slogans and delivering speeches against what they described as Indian interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. The protest reflected the party’s stance on historical grievances and current bilateral tensions.
Ariful Islam Adib, Senior Joint Convener of the NCP, made serious allegations during the protest, claiming that India had supported the former Awami League regime in carrying out what he termed “massacres” at Pilkhana and Shahbagh. These references point to controversial incidents in Bangladesh’s recent political history that opposition groups have used to criticize the previous government’s relationship with India.
Adib called upon Bangladesh’s Interim government to take concrete steps to “hold India accountable in international courts” for alleged actions and interference in the country’s affairs. His demands reflect a broader narrative among certain political factions in Bangladesh that view India’s role in the region with suspicion and hostility.
The NCP leader also issued a stern warning regarding Bangladesh’s upcoming elections, threatening that if any country “tries to interfere” in the electoral process, the people of Bangladesh will deliver a strong response. While not explicitly naming India, the context of his remarks during an anti-India demonstration made the target of his warning clear.
The statement appears designed to frame the upcoming elections as a matter of national sovereignty, positioning the NCP as defenders of Bangladesh’s independence from external influence. Such rhetoric has become increasingly common among opposition parties seeking to differentiate themselves from the previous Awami League government, which was often accused by critics of being too close to India.
The case of Felani Khatun has remained a sensitive issue in India-Bangladesh relations for over a decade. The 15-year-old was reportedly killed while crossing the border fence in 2011, with her body left hanging on the barbed wire for hours—images that sparked widespread outrage in Bangladesh. While a BSF soldier was tried and acquitted by an Indian court, the incident continues to be invoked by critics of India’s border management policies.
Border incidents between India and Bangladesh have periodically strained bilateral relations, despite generally close ties between the two countries on trade, security cooperation, and regional connectivity. The BSF and Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) maintain regular coordination mechanisms, but allegations of civilian casualties at the border remain a contentious issue.
The NCP’s decision to organize this march 15 years after the incident reflects ongoing efforts by some political groups in Bangladesh to keep historical grievances alive as part of their political messaging, particularly in the context of changing domestic political dynamics following the departure of the Awami League government.
