During today’s parliamentary session, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar handed an update on Shiekh Hasina presence in the country. He emphasized that the situation in Bangladesh is dynamic and highlighted that India is maintaining nonstop communication with the authorities in Bangladesh to address the evolving scenario.
On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar officially confirmed the presence of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India. He handed specific details about the circumstances under which she was permitted to travel to India at short notice. This decision followed her resignation on Monday in the wake of wide protests and violence in Bangladesh.
On August 4 protests in Bangladesh protest took a severe turn. Attacks on police, including police stations and government installations, boosted indeed as overall situations of violence escalated and properties of individualities associated with the governance were burned . What was worrying was that minorities and their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations.”
On August 5 demonstrators gathered in Dhaka despite a curfew. Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the decision to resign. At very short notice she requested approval to come, for the moment, to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance. she arrived yesterday evening in Delhi.”
He also referred to an address by Bangladesh Army chief General Waker- uz- Zaman- made Monday evening, shortly after Mrs Hasina stepped down in which he said,” I’ve met opposition leaders we’ve decided to form an interim government” and appealed for the violent protests to end.
The minister handed information indicating that there are roughly 19,000 Indian citizens residing in Bangladesh, of which nearly 9,000 are students. He said the government is in” close and continuous touch” with the Indian community and called on the host nation to give the needed security.
Additionally, he mentioned that the majority of these students had formerly returned to India in July with the assistance of the High Commission.
Jaishankar said that Delhi was covering the situation “ with regard to the status of minorities ” in Bangladesh.
Earlier, the minister handed important information to leaders during an all- party meeting this morning. Last night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his desire for” the understanding and support of the House” on this matter.
He also added” In the last 24 hours we’ve also been in regular touch with authorities in Dhaka. I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been strong national consensus.
Sheikh Hasina is in India.
Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign from her position as Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Her resignation was announced by Bangladesh army chief General Waqar- uz- Zaman who also announced the formation of an interim government. He said,” I am taking all responsibility for the country. Please cooperate,”.
After that Sheikh Hasina left from Dhaka, Bangladesh with her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, after the student- led protests against a controversial quota scheme for government jobs evolved into a widespread against her administration.
Her aircraft landed at Hindon Airbase near Delhi on Monday evening. She arrived in India in a C- 130J military transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force. Now she has been shifted to an undisclosed location under veritably tight security.
Shortly after fleeing from Dhaka, Bangladesh protestors stormed into her residence pillaged and vandalized it.
Now she has reportedly applied for asylum in the United Kingdom.
Situation in Bangladesh
At least 135 persons died in Bangladesh on Monday in mob violence, police shots and fire, ahead and after Hasina resigned. On Sunday, at least 93 persons were killed and over 1,000 injured in different parts of the country
In July, over 200 persons were killed amid protests that erupted after a High Court ruling in June reinstated the 30 quota in government jobs for family members of freedom fighters of the 1971 Bangladeshi Liberation War.
The reservation system, which was abolished in 2018 following widespread protests, reanimated outrage among youthful job seekers and students who worry that they would be deprived of opportunities because of the quota.
On July 21, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court scaled back but did not abolish, utmost of the proportions in government jobs.
The protestors, however, returned to the streets last week demanding justice for those killed and injured and calling for Hasina to resign.
