Protests held at land ports along Bangladesh border in West Bengal

Protests over lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh continued for the third consecutive day on Wednesday (December 24, 2025) in West Bengal, with members of pro-Hindu organisations holding demonstrations at several land ports along the Bangladesh border in the State.

Protests were held at the Phulbari land port in in Siliguri, Ghojadanga or Petrapole in North 24 Parganas, Mahadipur in Malda and Changrabandha in Cooch Behar district, where supporters of Hindutva organisations marched to the land port with saffron flags. They were stopped by the Border Security Force personnel before approaching the zero line.

BJP MLA Ashok Kirtania led a procession from Jayantipur Bazar towards the Petrapole border, which is the largest land port between India and Bangladesh. “We are holding this procession to bring it to the notice of Mohammad Yunus [chief adviser to Government of Bangladesh] that trade will be suspended if the situation in Bangladesh continues like this,” Mr. Kirtania said.

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The protests were organised by hindutva organisations like Sanatani Eikya Mancha, but BJP leaders were seen leading the rallies and processions across different districts of the State. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has called for protests at land ports earlier this week and threatened to stop exports if the situation in Bangladesh does not improve.

‘No impact on trade’

Petrapole in North 24-Parganas alone accounts for around 60% of land-based garment imports from Bangladesh and as per the Land Port Authority of India, trade from Petrapole was over ₹30,420 crore in 2023-24. Traders at Petrapole said the protest did not impact the trade which went on smoothly.

Protests were not only limited to border outposts but BJP supporters tried to block the Howrah Bridge on Wednesday (December 24, 2025). The police, however, stopped the BJP supporters before they could reach the Howrah Bridge. The protesters got into an argument and blocked the road. The protesters also tried to breach the barricades and clashed with the police.

Demonstrations have started in Kolkata and different parts of West Bengal over the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, in connection with alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh on December 18.

Since Monday (December 22), several protest marches have been held by BJP supporters and Hindutva organisations who tried to lay siege near the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. Protests outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission turned violent in Kolkata on Tuesday (December 23) as the people demonstrating tried to breach the barricades and police used force to prevent them.

The Kolkata Police had arrested 19 persons who included seven women for their role in the protests outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on Tuesday (December 23). The arrested were produced before a court in Kolkata on Wednesday (December 24).

The BJP in Delhi held a press conference and described the action on those protesting outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission ‘height of appeasement’. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said protests were held in different parts of the country, including Delhi, against the lynching of a Hindu worker in Bangladesh but it was only in West Bengal where the police resorted to lathi charge on the protesters.

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya slammed the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal and called it “anti-Hindu government”.