Massive protests broke out across Bangladesh, including the capital city of Dhaka, as demonstrators took to the streets to denounce Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and demand a boycott of products linked to the country.

What began as a show of solidarity quickly escalated, with protesters zeroing in on international brands such as Bata, KFC, and Pizza Hut — businesses they believe have associations with Israel.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the demonstrations turned violent in several areas. Crowds vandalised stores and disrupted daily life, as tensions flared and anger boiled over into property damage.

Here’s a closer look at how the situation unfolded.

Global outlets come under fire in Bangladesh

As anti-Israel demonstrations spread across multiple cities in Bangladesh, a wave of anger quickly turned towards global franchises, with protesters targeting outlets they believe are tied to Israel.

In Bogra city, hundreds of students and locals marched to the bustling Satmatha intersection, holding placards and chanting slogans condemning the ‘genocide in Gaza’. Many called for a nationwide boycott of Israeli products, accusing international brands of complicity in the violence.

The rally took a violent turn when the crowd attacked a Bata showroom. Protesters hurled bricks at the building, shattering its glass walls. Quick action by employees, who locked the doors from inside, prevented further destruction and potential harm to those inside.

“Although protestors threw bricks and broke the glass, no major untoward incident occurred,” said Officer-in-Charge (OC) SM Moinuddin of Bogra Sadar police station.

In the eastern city of Sylhet, tensions escalated as demonstrators stormed into a KFC outlet in the Mirboxtula area. Bottles of soft drinks, believed to be linked to Israeli companies, were smashed on the premises, reported Bangla Tribune. The restaurant was shut down as police moved in to take control of the situation.

Speakers at the protest rally demanded swift action from both the Bangladesh government and the United Nations. They urged for a boycott of Israeli goods and condemned what they called the “brutal killings of innocent children, women, and civilians” in Gaza. Several voices from the protest appealed to the global community to “stand for humanity.”

Meanwhile, in Chittagong, violence erupted near the GEC intersection in the afternoon. Protesters vandalised KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in the area, throwing bricks, stones, and even shoes. Both storefronts suffered significant damage, with their glass facades completely shattered.

Two units of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police were deployed to the scene to bring the situation under control. “We are investigating the incident. The situation is now calm, and the crowd dispersed by evening,” Mohammad Solaiman, police incharge of Panchlaish in Bangladesh, told Dhaka Tribune.

Similar scenes played out in Cox’s Bazar, where demonstrators gathered in Kalatali and hurled stones at the signboards of KFC and Pizza Hut.

“There was no vandalism inside the restaurants, only stone-throwing at the logos,” Officer-in-Charge Elias Khan of Cox’s Bazar police told BBC Bangla. However, eyewitnesses claimed that the unrest led to damage at several nearby establishments during the chaos.

Bata responds

In the wake of widespread vandalism targeting its outlets in Bangladesh, Bata has officially responded, condemning the attacks and clarifying its position amid the ongoing protests.

In a statement issued to the media, the company addressed the misinformation fueling the unrest. “We are aware of inaccurate claims suggesting that Bata is an Israeli-owned company or has political affiliations in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.”

Bata further clarified, “Bata globally is a privately held, family-owned company founded in the Czech Republic, with no political ties to the conflict. It is deeply regrettable that some of our retail locations in Bangladesh have recently been subjected to vandalism, apparently triggered by these false narratives,” the company said, as quoted by Dhaka Tribune.

Protests fuel political tensions

The recent wave of unrest during pro-Gaza protests has not only shaken streets across Bangladesh but also reignited sharp political tensions at the top.

While the interim government, led by Chief Advisor and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, strongly condemned the unrest, the ousted Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League lashed out at the developments, calling them a dangerous warning sign of rising extremism in the country.

“This is more than a political crisis – it’s a national emergency. Bangladesh risks becoming the next Afghanistan if the international community remains silent,” the Awami League said in a statement issued after the protests turned violent.

The party held the Yunus-led administration responsible for the breakdown in law and order, demanding urgent steps to restore stability.

“Democracy must be revived. Dr Yunus must step down to make way for free and fair elections. To the global community: act now. Engage. Raise your voices. The cost of inaction will be devastating not just for Bangladesh, but for regional and global stability,” the statement added.

Yunus, who had earlier expressed solidarity with Palestine, issued a fresh statement on Tuesday condemning the violence and promising swift action against those involved.

“Bangladesh police have swiftly moved to take action over the violent and unlawful events that unfolded during the Pro-Gaza protests in several cities on Monday. These attacks and acts of vandalism are an affront to public safety and the rule of law,” Yunus said.

He added that law enforcement agencies had already made progress.

“As of now, at least 49 individuals have been arrested in connection with these incidents. The police have acted swiftly, and two cases have been formally filed. Further investigations are underway, and additional cases are in the process of being filed against those responsible for these reprehensible acts,” he noted.

Yunus confirmed that authorities were reviewing video footage from the protests to identify more perpetrators. Raids were conducted on Monday night in a bid to locate and apprehend those responsible for the attacks.