The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving and India is in touch with the authorities in Dhaka, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday (August 6, 2024). In a suo moto statement, Mr. Jaishankar said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had arrived in Delhi Monday evening after a request, at very short notice.
The Minister said the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh is in touch with the Indian citizens there.
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Mr. Jaishankar said that, on Monday, demonstrators had converged in Dhaka despite the curfew. “Our understanding is that after a meeting with the leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently 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 from Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi,” he said.
“The Army Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, addressed the nation on August 5. He spoke about assuming responsibility and constituting an interim government,” the Minister said
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Maintaining that the Centre is in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through the diplomatic missions, he said there are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals in the neighbouring country, of which about 9,000 are students. “The bulk of the students have already returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission. In terms of our diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments. We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilises,” he said.
Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, on August. 6, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
On the question of the situation of minorities, he said there are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their protection and well-being. “We welcome that, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Our border guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation,” he told Parliament.
“This is the situation as of now. 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,” he said.
In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien tried to seek a clarification, but Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar did not permit him to do so.
Mr. Jaishankar said since the election in January 2024, there had been considerable tensions, deep divides and growing polarisation in Bangladeshi politics. “This underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year. There was growing violence, including attacks on public buildings and infrastructure, as well as traffic and rail obstructions. The violence continued through the month of July. Throughout this period, we repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be defused through dialogue. Similar urgings were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch,” he said.
He said there was no let-up in the public agitation despite a Supreme Court verdict. “Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation. The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda, that is that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down,” he said, and added that events took a very serious turn on Sunday. “What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear,” he said.
