Protests without borders: Bangladesh’s reputation takes a hit

What was once confined to placards and black flags has now escalated into egg-throwing, vandalism and arrests turning Bangladeshi political protests abroad into spectacles that stain the national image. A foreign visit by any senior Bangladeshi political figure, whether from government or any political camp, now routinely triggers demonstrations by expatriate party workers. But what began as symbolic dissent has morphed into aggressive, headline-grabbing confrontations, drawing police intervention and diplomatic concern. This “tradition” of overseas political agitation has persisted for over a decade. During former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visits to Western capitals, BNP and Jamaat activists staged protests waving black flags, shouting slogans, and occasionally breaching diplomatic premises. Now, the same pattern is repeating, with heightened intensity, during the...