Protests swept across several districts in Bangladesh on Monday, as demonstrators targeted businesses perceived to have Israeli links — including Bata, KFC, and Pizza Hut — in response to Israel`s military offensive in Gaza and calls for a boycott of Israeli products.
In Bogra, hundreds of students and local residents took to the streets in the afternoon, rallying against the ongoing killings of Palestinians in Gaza. The demonstration, which began with processions from various educational institutions, converged at the city’s central point, Satmatha.
Tensions escalated when protestors stormed the Bata showroom, shattering its glass walls with bricks and chanting slogans condemning Israeli aggression and calling for a boycott of Israeli-linked products.
Traffic came to a standstill across Bogra as the rally gained momentum. However, showroom staff managed to lock the doors from the inside, preventing further damage.
Bogra Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) SM Moinuddin confirmed that while the protestors broke the showroom’s glass panels, no major untoward incidents took place.
Students from different institutions, including Govt Azizul Haque College, marched under the banner of "General Students, Bogra," voicing their outrage over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Similar scenes unfolded in Sylhet, where demonstrators attacked a KFC outlet in the Mirboxtula area, smashing bottles of soft drinks associated with Israeli companies, reports Bangla Tribune.
Following the attack, the KFC restaurant was immediately shut down, with police arriving shortly after to restore order.
Protestors also urged the Bangladesh government and the United Nations to take decisive action to enforce a boycott of Israeli products.
At the rallies, speakers condemned Israel’s attacks on civilians, women, and children in Gaza, calling on the international community to stand against such brutality.
In Cox’s Bazar, protestors gathered in the Kalatali area and hurled stones at the signboards of KFC and Pizza Hut — brands seen by demonstrators as being linked to Israel.
Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of people throwing stones at the outlets, breaking the glass signboards.
However, Cox’s Bazar Police Station OC Elias Khan told BBC Bangla that while there was no vandalism inside the restaurants, the exteriors, including the logos, were targeted.
Witnesses claimed that nearby establishments also suffered minor damage during the unrest.
Protests were also reported in Chittagong, where demonstrators vandalized KFC and Pizza Hut outlets during a rally condemning Israel’s assault on Gaza.
The demonstration turned violent near the city’s GEC intersection around 4:15pm, with protestors throwing stones, bricks, and shoes at the restaurants, breaking their front glass panels.
Two units of Chittagong Metropolitan Police were deployed to control the situation.
“The glass facades of KFC and Pizza Hut at GEC were broken after protestors threw stones during the rally against the attacks in Palestine,” Panchlaish Police Station OC Mohammad Solaiman told Bangla Tribune.
He added that police had brought the situation under control by the evening and that an investigation was underway.
The wave of protests across Bogra, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, and Chittagong reflects the widespread anger in Bangladesh over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with demonstrators calling for solidarity with Palestine and a nationwide boycott of Israeli products.
