Bangladesh protests Highlights: Muhammad Yunus ready to head Bangladesh ‘interim government’; Sheikh Hasina grounded at India until asylum is granted

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe remembers Sheikh Hasina’s government’s generosity during the Sri Lankan economic crisis in 2022. He also added that if she had released former premier Khaleda Zia from jail long ago, she would still be Bangladesh’s Prime Minister.

- PTI

“The Left Front expects early restoration of peace in Bangladesh and the continuation of harmonious relations between it and India,” the Left Front said on Tuesday (August 6, 2024).

CPI(M) West Bengal general secretary Mohammad Salim also condemned the violence. “We want a stable Bangladesh and peace in the neighbouring country,” he said on Monday (August 5, 2024).

The Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal’s Santiniketan on Tuesday (August 6, 2024) announced that the annual tree plantation (‘Briksha Ropan’) programme to mark the death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, held annually on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) at the Bangladesh Bhavan, will be held at the Jagadish Kanon this year.

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday (August 6, 2024) condemned the targeted attacks on Hindu- temples, houses and commercial establishments in Bangladesh. He asked the Centre to do “all it can politically and diplomatically” to protect the Hindu minority.

He also asked the Centre to take action against people floating videos on social media platforms, intending to incite trouble and instability in India.

- PTI

After earlier cancelling its Tuesday (August 6, 2024) morning flight from Delhi to Dhaka, Air India will operate its scheduled flight from the national capital to Dhaka on Tuesday (August 6, 2024) evening.

Vistara’s scheduled services to the Bangladesh capital will resume from August 7.

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“A group of 13 members of the anti-discrimination student movement is holding a meeting with the President and the three armed forces chiefs at Bangabhaban regarding the current situation and the shape of the interim government,” a local paper reported.

Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators of the movement who is meeting with the president, proposed Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as the head of the interim government.

- PTI

“West Bengal has the biggest challenge and has to absorb the most pressure during this sensitive time. It would be prudent of the Union government to keep the Chief Minister updated,” Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said on Tuesday (August 6, 2024).

He also said that West Bengal would be the most impacted by any crisis in Bangladesh.

- PTI

The Maharashtra government has set up a team of officials to facilitate the safe return of about 20 of their students who are studying in Bangladesh. The chief ministers office said that a list of the students has been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs.

- PTI

On Tuesday (August 6, 2024), the Bangladesh Army carried out a major reshuffle in the top positions in the Army.

Director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) Major General Ziaul Ahsan has been relieved from service, among other major changes.

- PTI

“Our parents are concerned about our safety but we had taken an oath at the time of our degree completion to safeguard people’s lives. It is our duty to serve them and the hospitals need us in this difficult time,” a doctor from Gujarat said.

They said that the situation was in a state of “complete lawlessness”, but things appeared to have improved on Tuesday (August 6, 2024) morning as the curfew was lifted.

- PTI

“I am honoured by the trust of the protesters who wish for me to lead the interim government,” Nobel winner Muhammad Yunus said in a written statement to AFP.

Muhammad Yunus, 83, is a well-known critic and political opponent of Sheikh Hasina. The economist and banker was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering the use of microcredit to help impoverished people, particularly women. He founded the Grameen Bank to help small entrepreneurs receive small loans who would not normally qualify to receive them. It was successful in lifting people out of poverty and inspired similar microfinancing efforts in other countries. ( AP)

“The Indian garment industry is making serious efforts to grow RMG (ready-made garment) exports on its own, based on merit. However, it is quite likely that short-term garment orders may shift to India and the Indian apparel industry may be asked to fill the gap caused by this severe disruption,” Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) said on Tuesday (August 6, 2024).

However, Indian exporters added that India has no intention or inclination to exploit this unfortunate situation in its friendly neighbouring country.

- PTI

It is still unclear where Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s final stop will be, as sources confirmed that the U.K. is “unlikely” to accept her request for asylum. She is also studying her options with other countries like the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia, including those country’s where her immediate family resides like the U.S., Finland and India.

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“Political development in any member country has no impact on the functioning of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC),” said the regional group’s Secretary-General Indra Mani Pandey in an exclusive interview on Tuesday (August 6).

She further said that BIMSTEC focuses on technical and economic cooperation between member countries while staying away from political issues and internal political developments of the countries.

- ANI

The Bangladesh senior men’s two-Test away series against Pakistan is set to start on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. However, due to the current civil unrest in the country, it looks uncertain whether it will take place.

Attacks on the homes of some senior players by mobs have also been reported. This has deepened the crisis since the A team was due to reach Pakistan tomorrow while the Test squad was due to touch base on Saturday (August 17, 2024).

- PTI

“This is a complete failure of the External Affairs Policy. We used to be the big brother of the region, where each country would look up to India for help if there was any turmoil. Unfortunately, the Chinese influence is growing and it is a severe failure of the policies of the Modi Government,” Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday (August 6, 2024).

- ANI

European Union (EU) diplomats in Bangladesh said they were “very concerned” about attacks on minority groups reported a day after the prime minister resigned on Tuesday (August 6, 2024).

Some businesses and homes owned by Hindus – a religious group seen to have been close to ousted leader Sheikh Hasina – were attacked on Monday (August 5, 2024), witnesses said.

- AFP

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has requested locals living along the India-Bangladesh international border to avoid unnecessary movement in the frontier areas, especially during the night, officials said on Tuesday (August 6, 2024).

They also asked all their units to “maintain an alert posture” along the entire 4,096 km-long border front that runs across West Bengal (2,217 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Assam (262 km) and Mizoram (318 km).

- PTI

Though the recent 30% reservation mandate for descendants of freedom fighters in government employment triggered the recent waves of protests but fissures within the Awami League party and political blunders of Sheikh Hasina are responsible for the political instability in Bangladesh, writes Kallol Bhattacharjee.

Bangladesh’s key police association, Bangladesh Police Association, on August 6 said its members are going on strike until the security of each police personnel is ensured.

“We beg an apology for what the police force has done to the innocent students,” the Bangladesh Police Association statement said.

It argued its officers had been “forced to open fire”, and that they had been cast as the “villain”.

Following the resignation of PM Hasina after the countrywide anti-government protest, Bangladesh saw many incidents of arson and looting. At many places party offices of the Awami League have set on fire.

Students were protesting against the 30% reservation in government employment for descendants of freedom fighters of 1971 but after the killing of more than 300 protesters in police firing, they demanded the resignation of PM Hasina.- AFP

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has dissolved Bangladesh’s parliament. Protesting students have been given an ultimatum of today to dissolve the parliament after PM Hasina resigned from her post and fled the country.

Bangladesh Army chief to meet student leaders today to discuss the interim government formation.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said in Rajya Sabha that India is closely monitoring every developing situation in Bangladesh. He expressed his concern over the 19,000 Indian citizens who are still in Bangladesh.

Commenting on security in areas which share border with Bangladesh he said that BSF has kept on high alert.

India-Bangladesh trade, which was disrupted in the wake of the unrest in the neighbouring country and the resignation of embattled prime minister Sheikh Hasina, remained stalled on Tuesday, traders said.

West Bengal Exporters Coordination Committee secretary Ujjal Saha said trade through land ports in the state has been halted due to “non-clearance of goods by Bangladesh customs, resulting in hundreds of trucks being lined up in parking lots”.

Trade between the two countries through land ports at Petrapole, Gojadanga, Mahadipur, and Fulbari in West Bengal has been affected, while some passenger movement has been reported but turnout remains low, sources said.

- PTI

The Bihar Police headquarters issued a vigilance order in the state on Tuesday following the ongoing protests in Bangladesh.

The police issued a notice to the public, stating that any information about suspicious activity or items should be reported immediately to the Superintendent of Police or the concerned district authorities.

Toll-free numbers 14432 and 112 were also provided to the public.

- ANI

The International Monetary Fund said it was “fully committed to Bangladesh and its people” after protests ousted the prime minister.

The Fund, which approved a $4.7 billion loan programme with the country in January 2023, said it was “deeply saddened by loss of lives and injuries,” but would continue to “support efforts to ensure economic stability and deliver inclusive growth”.

- Reuters

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres continues to follow developments in Bangladesh closely and deplored the loss of lives in the country during the protests.

He urged calm and restraint by all sides and emphasised the importance of a peaceful, orderly and democratic transition.

“The Secretary-General deplores the further loss of life during protests in Bangladesh over the weekend. He continues to closely follow developments in the country, including the Chief of Army Staff’s announcement regarding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and plans for the formation of an Interim Government,” a statement from his office said.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“The Secretary-General stands in full solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and calls for the full respect of their human rights,” the statement read, adding that he continues to underscore the need for a full, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into all acts of violence.

- ANI

The Eastern Railway said services of the Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express will remain cancelled on Wednesday due to the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh.

The neighbouring country plunged into uncertainty after protests led to the resignation of the country’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Monday.

Citing a message from Bangladesh Railways, the ER said on Tuesday the services of Maitree Express, which has not been operational since July 19, will not resume services on Wednesday.

The operations of bi-weekly Kolkata-Khulna-Kolkata Bandhan Express have also remained suspended since July 21.

- PTI

The C-130J transport aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force carrying seven military personnel has landed at a Bangladeshi air base after flying over from India. The aircraft was monitored all along its flight path over India by security agencies, defence sources told ANI.

Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh Air Force’s C-130J took off from the Hindon Air Force base at around 9 am IST, according to sources. It is important to note that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not on board the C-130 J transport aircraft which took off today from the Hindon air base.

Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening after tendering her resignation. It is not clear if Sheikh Hasina will continue to stay in Delhi or move to another location later.

- ANI

The same Islamists who threw her out have forced Sheikh Hasina to leave Bangladesh, sais author Taslima Nasreen, exiled from the country in the 1990s following protests over her book “Lajja”.

Finding Ms. Hasina’s situation ironic, Ms. Nasreen said in a post on X, “Hasina in order to please Islamists threw me out of my country in 1999 after I entered Bangladesh to see my mother in her deathbed and never allowed me to enter the country again. The same Islamists have been in the student movement who forced Hasina to leave the country today.”

Ms. Nasreen has been living in exile since 1994 after she faced criticism from Islamist fundamentalists for her writings on communalism and women’s equality in Bangladesh. 

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on August 6 told an all-party meeting that India has assured help to ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who arrived in New Delhi on Monday evening, and given her time to decide the future course of action, sources said.

Noting that it has been not even 24 hours since Ms. Hasina arrived in India, he said she is in a state of shock and the government is giving her time to recover before it speaks to her over various issues, including her future plans, the sources said.

The External Affairs Minister is scheduled to make a statement on the issue in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. - PTI

Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus agreed to lead the interim government as its chief adviser, reported Bangladesh’s leading newspaper The Daily Star.

“I also considered that these students had protested so much, they had to pay so much for it. If the students can sacrifice so much, then I also have some responsibility. Then I told the students that I can take the responsibility,” Mr. Yunus was quoted as saying.

Air India on August 6 cancelled morning flight to Dhaka from the National Capital amid massive anti-government protests in Bangladesh.

IndiGo and Vistara have cancelled all their flights to the Bangladesh capital on Tuesday, two officials said. - PTI

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on August 6 told an all-party meeting that India has assured help to ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who arrived in New Delhi on Monday evening, and given her time to decide the future course of action, sources said.

Briefing political party leaders in Parliament House, Mr. Jaishankar said India was in touch with the Bangladesh Army to ensure the safety of over 10,000 Indian students in that country, the sources said.

“Briefed an All-Party meeting in Parliament today about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh. Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that was extended,” Mr. Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currently at Hindon Air Force station, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. She arrived on August 5 in a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 transport aircraft after she left Dhaka as protestors stormed her residence. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chief of Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Western Air Command Air Marshal PM Sinha met her at Hindon. 

Ms. Hasina is not expected to stay long in India as officials said she has sought asylum in United Kingdom. She is expected to stay here for a 1-2 nights as the approval for asylum is awaited, an official source said. - Dinakar Peri

At least 109 people were killed during violent unrest in Bangladesh on Monday as the prime minister was ousted, police and doctors said, updating an earlier toll.

It marks the deadliest day since protests began in early July, and brings the total number killed to 409, according to an AFP tally based on police, government officials and doctors at hospitals.

With the situation in Bangladesh snowballing into a major political turmoil, a former Indian high commissioner to Dhaka has cautioned that India will have to be “very vigilant” on the border in the wake of the crisis even as he asserted that New Delhi will be “prepared for all eventualities”.

Pankaj Saran, a veteran diplomat and former envoy of India to Bangladesh during whose tenure the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) was ratified by the Indian Parliament in 2015, said on Monday that one cannot say when would things settle down in the neighbouring country. - PTI

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin late on August 5 ordered the release of prisoners from the protests, as well as former prime minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, 78.

Ms. Zia, who is in poor health, was jailed by her arch-rival Hasina for graft in 2018.

The president and army chief also met late Monday, alongside key Opposition leaders, with the president’s press team saying it had been “decided to form an interim government immediately”. - AFP

All garment factories in Bangladesh have been requested to remain closed on August 6, said Garment Manufacturers’ body. - Reuters

Hours after Bangladesh Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina quit and fled the country on Monday following mass protests, Sri Lanka — whose former President was ousted by a citizen’s uprising two years ago — expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh.

“Our hearts are with the people of #Bangladesh during these incredibly challenging times. The recent events have led to significant unrest and, tragically, the loss of many lives. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those affected and to all who are suffering during this difficult period,” said Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in a message on social media platform ‘X’ Monday, August 5, 2024 night.

Central government to hold an all-party meet to brief Opposition leaders on the situation in Bangladesh on August 6. Ministers to be present include: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, EAM Jaishankar and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju. - Nistula Hebbar

The Biden Administration has said an interim government in Bangladesh, which has descended into chaos after the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid violent anti-quota protests, should be formed according to democratic principles, rule of law and the will of the Bangladeshi people.

“We want to see the Bangladeshi people decide the future of the Bangladeshi government,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.

Bangladesh’s army chief will meet student protest leaders on August 6 as the country awaits the formation of a new government a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following a violent uprising against her rule.

Student leaders, who spearheaded a movement against job quotas that turned into a call for Ms. Hasina to resign, said early on Tuesday that they want a new interim government with Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus as its chief adviser.

“Any government other than the one we recommended would not be accepted,” Nahid Islam, one the key organisers of the students movement, said in a video on Facebook with three other organisers. “We wouldn’t accept any army-supported or army-led government.” - Reuters

Western powers called Monday for calm in Bangladesh after long-ruling leader Sheikh Hasina fled, with the United States saluting the military for forming an interim government rather than cracking down further on protesters.

The United States called on all sides in Bangladesh to “refrain from further violence” as bullet-ridden bodies were strewn across hospital floors and looting swept the capital Dhaka.

“Too many lives have been lost over the course of the past several weeks, and we urge calm and restraint in the days ahead,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. - AFP

“Stay safe and strong, Hasina Aunty. Tomorrow is another day. My prayers are with you” — this post on “X” by Sharmishtha Mukherjee, daughter of the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, not only recalled the close ties between the Mukherjee family and that of Sheikh Hasina but also the last time the latter was in exile, in New Delhi.

While Ms. Hasina is said to be heading to London to seek asylum this time around, the years she spent in India, and the close personal embrace of the Mukherjee family, are brought to mind in the light of the events unfolding in Bangladesh. 

Between 1975 and 1981, Ms. Hasina stayed in New Delhi after the brutal assassination of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and several other members of her family. At that time, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had sheltered the surviving members of the clan in New Delhi and tasked Pranab Mukherjee with their welfare, a task he and his wife Suvra undertook with diligence and care. Ms. Hasina referred to Suvra as “boudi” (the Bangla term for sister-in-law) and the two bonded over music, poetry and other interests. Reeling from grief, Ms. Hasina was brought into the family circle of the Mukherjees, something she held onto much after.

As the Prime Minister-ship of Sheikh Hasina came to an end on August 5, a predominant sentiment in the Awami League is that there were tell-tale signs of weakening of the consultation process within the party that was built on friendship and camaraderie. The sign of systemic weakening came rather dramatically soon after Prime Minister Hasina returned from China cutting short a visit that was planned over several months. By the time Ms. Hasina returned from Beijing on July 10, the forces that would ultimately cause her overthrow had mobilised themselves.

The initial reports suggested that her abrupt return was caused by China’s refusal to provide a major financial package to Bangladesh. However, the speculation over the visit to Beijing was soon replaced by the anti-quota movement by the students who were demanding reform in the employment reservation that dedicated nearly 30% government employment for descendants of the freedom fighters of 1971.

Bangladesh student protest coordinators called for the formation of a new interim government formation with Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus as its chief adviser, according to a video released by the coordinators on Facebook early on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh army chief plans to meet the protest coordinators at 12 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Tuesday, the army separately said in a statement. 

- Reuters

Bangladesh’s longest-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned from her post and fled to India on Monday as anti-quota protests by students rocking her nation reached a pinnacle. An interim government is being formed under the leadership of the Army and other political parties.

In scenes similar to the toppling of the Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka, thousands of protestors have taken over the official prime ministerial residence. Ms. Hasina’s government has come under fire for its killing of over 300 people, mostly protestors since last month, who have been demanding an end to the quota system for jobs.

The mass agitation against Sheikh Hasina, who won her last three elections almost unopposed, sprung in June after the Bangladesh High Court nullified Ms. Hasina’s executive order that had dissolved all quotas in the civil services. Bangladeshi students, who have been demanding an end to the 30% quota in jobs for freedom fighters and their descendants, were upset with the court’s order and took to the streets.