Dhaka disconnect: Excellent relations marred by violent protests

The invitation to PM Modi to deliver the keynote speech at the nation's 50th anniversary celebrations was a recognition of the importance Dhaka accords to the bilateral relationship with New Delhi

Unprecedented protests against the two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh have led to police baton-charging and firing on protestors across the country, causing nine deaths. He was invited to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of Bangladesh’s independence, coinciding with the centennial celebration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth. The protests indicate a widening gap between the excellent functional relationship between the two governments and the perception of the people of Bangladesh.
 
Moreover, the protests have come at a time when the relations between the two neighbours could not be better. The invitation to Prime Minister Modi