Bangladesh Protest 2.0! Israel Gaza War Sparks Massive Protest in Muhammed Yunus Backyard, Big Brands Targeted

As the Israel-Gaza war escalates, tensions have spilled far beyond the Middle East—reaching the heart of South Asia. In what is now being called Bangladesh Protest 2.0, widespread demonstrations erupted across major cities including Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram, Barishal, and Cumilla. What began as peaceful marches in solidarity with Palestine quickly turned violent, targeting multinational brands wrongly believed to have ties with Israel.

 Protest in the Age of Misinformation: Brands Under Fire

Outlets of KFC, Bata, Puma, Domino’s, and Pizza Hut were vandalized and looted by protestors. Viral social media posts falsely accused these companies of financially supporting Israel or maintaining Israeli ties. Video footage showed mobs smashing glass fronts, stealing merchandise, and in some cases, re-selling the items online.

What was originally a protest for Palestine transformed into a wave of misdirected anger—a dangerous sign of how fast misinformation spreads in the digital age.

Protest Lands in Muhammad Yunus’ Backyard

Ironically, this unrest unfolded just as Bangladesh prepares to host its first-ever global investment summit, a flagship initiative under the leadership of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The summit is being positioned as a game-changer for attracting foreign investors during a period of economic uncertainty.

But the images of angry crowds ransacking foreign retail outlets in cities across the country present a sharp contradiction to that vision. For Yunus, who has long championed global cooperation and economic innovation, this episode raises questions about Bangladesh’s internal stability and readiness for global attention.

The Truth Behind the Targeted Brands

• Bata, headquartered in the Czech Republic, has categorically denied any ties to Israel, calling the accusations “baseless and harmful.”
• Puma, a German company, ended its association with the Israel Football Association in 2024.
• Domino’s, run in Bangladesh by an Indian company, faced backlash due to an unrelated event in Israel.
• KFC, though present in Israel, has no political links to the conflict. Its franchise in Bangladesh operates independently.

Each of these companies issued clarifying statements, but by then, much of the damage—both physical and reputational—had already been done.

Police Crackdown and The Road Ahead

Over 70 people have been arrested so far, with law enforcement conducting raids in multiple areas to prevent further escalation. Authorities are also investigating the source of the viral misinformation that triggered the attacks.

Despite the chaos, the government remains committed to going ahead with the Muhammad Yunus-led investment summit, hoping to restore order and confidence before the global spotlight turns toward Dhaka.

What Bangladesh Protest 2.0 Tells the World

Bangladesh Protest 2.0 is a powerful reminder of how global conflicts can ripple into local unrest—especially when fuelled by social media misinformation and collective anger. It also highlights the complex challenge that Muhammad Yunus and his team face: presenting a peaceful, investor-friendly image of Bangladesh while navigating grassroots unrest that threatens that very image.

As Bangladesh walks this tightrope between solidarity and stability, the world will be watching—not just for how the nation stands with Palestine, but for how it holds itself together.