In a bid to bolster national security, the Bangladesh Army has formed a security cordon around the Indian Assistant High Commission office in the Khulshi area of Chattogram city amid heightened tension.
From 7:00am on Friday, eight army teams took positions around the high commission and along the adjacent Zakir Hossain Road, where barricades were set up on both sides of the road.
Members of the police and the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) have also been deployed to reinforce security in the area.
The barricades led to traffic congestion on Zakir Hossain Road and surrounding areas.
As of 12:30pm, a large number of law enforcement personnel were seen on alert in front of and around the assistant high commission office, with no one being allowed to gather in the area.
Earlier, on Thursday night around 10:45pm, 15 to 20 youths identifying themselves as students and members of the public took positions on the road in front of the assistant high commission office to protest the death of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Police later dispersed them.
About half an hour later, another group arrived with a procession and began protesting, escalating the situation. Police dispersed the protesters using tear gas and batons and detained 12 people.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasib Aziz visited the scene and met the high commissioner.
He told the media that the Indian assistant high commissioner was at his residence at the time and that protesters threw bricks and stones towards the residence, adding that police brought the situation under control by firing several rounds of tear gas and sound grenades.
