On the night of November 10, Bangladeshi police arrested three individuals in Dhaka’s Gulistan area for publicly displaying posters of former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to eyewitness accounts, the three were preparing to celebrate Trump’s expected victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election when a group identifying as student activists intervened.
The celebration reportedly turned confrontational as the activists tried to disrupt the gathering, questioning why Trump’s image was being displayed in Bangladesh. Verbal clashes soon escalated, leading to physical altercations. The activists ultimately handed over the Trump supporters to the authorities, citing the posters as provocative. Among the items seized by the police were images of both Trump and Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
This incident marks a first in Bangladesh, where public displays of support for Trump have resulted in arrests. The administration, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, has often voiced opposition to Trump’s policies on international platforms, but this arrest underscores a new level of scrutiny on public expression tied to foreign political figures.
The arrests have sparked debates within Bangladesh, highlighting tensions around political expression and affiliations. Local observers note that the incident may signal increased limitations on public displays of foreign political support, with implications for freedom of speech in Bangladesh.