'Cancel work permit for Indians': Osmana Hadi's outfit's 24-hour ultimatum to Yunus govt as anti-India rhetoric peaks in Bangladesh

A man holds a placard as tens of thousands of people join the funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader, who died after being shot in the head, at the Parliament building area of Manik Mia Avenue, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 20, 2025. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain

• Anti-India protests escalate in Bangladesh after student leader's killing
• Inqilab Moncho calls for canceling Indian work permits and quick trial of suspects.
• India denies suspects fled; diplomatic tensions rise.

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Anti-India rhetoric in Bangladesh has sharpened further following the killing of anti-India student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, with his organisation, Inqilab Moncho, now issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the government and demanding punitive action against Indians working in the country.

From Shahbagh in Dhaka on Sunday night, Inqilab Moncho’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber announced four demands, including the cancellation of work permits issued to Indian nationals. The group also demanded that the trial of everyone allegedly involved in Hadi’s killing be completed within 24 days.

In a Facebook statement, the outfit said, “The trial of the entire killing squad, including the killer, the mastermind, the accomplices, those who aided their escape, and those who sheltered them, must be completed within the next 24 days.”

Listing its demands, the post added that if Hadi’s alleged killers were not returned within 24 hours or if there was no “specific statement” about their presence in India, “the work permits of the Indians must be canceled.” It further claimed that if India refused to hand over the accused, Bangladesh should file a case against India at the International Court of Justice. The group also called for the arrest of what it described as “fascist culprits hiding in the Civil Military Intelligence.”

The ultimatum follows claims by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police that two prime suspects in Hadi’s murder fled to India through the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh district, which connects to Meghalaya. These claims have been repeatedly denied by Indian authorities.

The Border Security Force in Meghalaya rejected the allegation on Sunday, saying there was no evidence of any such cross-border movement. “The claims are unfounded and misleading,” BSF Inspector General in Meghalaya OP Opadhyay said. The BSF clarified that there had been no illegal crossings, arrests or interceptions in the sector.

Despite the lack of evidence, Inqilab Moncho has continued protests and road blockades in different parts of Bangladesh, keeping tensions high. The situation has been further aggravated by violence during recent unrest, including the lynching of two Hindu men.

India has raised strong concerns over the killings. On Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was deeply disturbed by the incidents. “The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice,” he said.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry, however, dismissed India’s concerns, alleging bias. In a statement, it said, “We note that there are systematic attempts to portray the isolated incidents of criminal acts as systemic persecution of the Hindus and maliciously used to propagate anti-Bangladesh sentiments in different parts of India.”

As street protests continue and anti-India slogans grow louder, the episode has once again highlighted Bangladesh’s deepening political volatility and its willingness to escalate diplomatic tensions amid unresolved questions surrounding Osman Hadi’s killing.