Dhaka: The protests that started in Bangladesh against the Israeli army’s attacks on the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian tragedy taking place there now seem to be moving towards chaos. On April 7, various student organizations and radical groups had called for a nationwide strike. The purpose was to condemn Israel’s actions, but what happened on the streets went far beyond raising voice for humanity. Protesters vandalized and looted showrooms of international brands in Sylhet, Chittagong and other cities, which shook the whole country.

The journey from demonstration to chaos

This protest, which started on Monday, soon took a violent turn. By afternoon, the atmosphere in Mirboxtula area of ​​Sylhet became heated. A group of protesters first attacked the KFC showroom. According to eyewitnesses, some people were seen throwing and breaking cold drink bottles, while others entered the showroom and looted the goods. After this, reports of looting also came in from establishments like Bata, Unimart and Alpine. Police sources said that about 10 showrooms were targeted during the day.

The situation was no different in Chittagong. There, the incident of stealing shoes from a Bata showroom was caught on camera, which is now going viral on social media. In the video, it is clearly seen that some people are running away with shoes from the Bata store with black flags in their hands. According to government figures, 16 restaurants and sales centers across the country were vandalized and looted, which included famous brands like KFC, Pizza Hut and Bata.

Questions on police inaction

Questions are being raised on the role of the police during these incidents. A senior police officer said on the condition of anonymity, “We had instructions from above not to take strict action. Looking at the situation, we tried to disperse the crowd, but due to lack of resources the situation went out of control.” This inaction further boosted the morale of the looters.

Taslima Nasreen’s sharp statement
Exiled writer Taslima Nasreen has taken a strong stand on this chaos. Expressing her displeasure on social media, she shared a picture in which people are seen looting shoes from a Bata showroom. Taslima wrote, “They are on the streets for a policy issue. The attack on Gaza is wrong, but these people themselves are crossing the limits of immorality. Bata is not an Israeli product. They did not even boycott it because it is Israeli. Instead, they stole all the shoes and ran away. These thieves are the true Muslims of Bangladesh.”
Taslima’s statement is a sharp sarcasm on the current situation. She also raised the question whether looting can be justified in the name of protest. Her statement has sparked a debate on social media, where some people are supporting her views, while some are calling it an exaggeration.
What is the real purpose of the protest?
Analysts believe that this demonstration started in support of Gaza, but the infiltration of radical elements in it turned it violent. Professor Abdul Haq of Dhaka University says, “Two things are clearly visible here. One, there is genuine anger among the people against the violence happening in Gaza. Second, some groups are taking advantage of this sentiment to spread anarchy. Bata or KFC have no direct connection with Israel, yet targeting them points to an organized attack.” Government’s response After the strike and violence, Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus issued a statement on social media. He wrote, “Protesting is the right of every citizen, but violence and looting are not acceptable in any civilized society. I strongly condemn these incidents and assure action against the culprits.” However, even after this statement, discontent remains among the people, as the inaction of the police has raised questions on the credibility of the government. What next? This incident in Bangladesh once again underlines the growing influence of radicalism and instability. The attempt to garner global sympathy for the Gaza issue has led to local violence. The question is, was this protest really for humanity, or did it just become an excuse to spread anarchy? Voices like Taslima Nasreen believe that this incident is a stain on the social fabric of Bangladesh.

At present, tension remains in the country. People are hoping that the government will soon control the situation, so that these shameful pictures of looting in the name of protest do not become history. What do you think about this? Do share your opinion.