New Delhi: The Indian government had conveyed the need for restraint and dialogue when counselling the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh during protests that raged for the last six months, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said in Parliament Tuesday. He added that India is in touch with Bangladeshi authorities and other political “forces”, though he did not mention them by name.
“We repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be diffused through dialogue. Similar urging was made to various political forces we were in touch with,” the foreign minister said while describing growing polarisation in the neighbouring country since January.
There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh, of which 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students returned to India last month. Around 6,700 have returned as of 25 July.
In his address, Jaishankar said India expects the neighbouring country’s new interim government to provide necessary security protection for Indian missions. India runs five diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, including the High Commission in Dhaka.
Hasina is currently in India, having met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and other top Indian officials at Hindon Airbase Monday evening. ThePrint reported that the former prime minister sought promises from New Delhi that it will keep trade and business links with Bangladesh intact and continue talks with the new interim government.
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‘Border forces on alert’
In his address to Parliament, Jaishankar said India’s border-guarding forces are on alert, given India shares a strategic border with the neighbouring country.
Jaishankar said Hasina’s request to enter India came under short notice.
“Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. At very short notice, she requested approval to come to India for the moment. We simultaneously received a flight request from authorities in Bangladesh and subsequently she landed in Delhi,” he told Parliament.
Hasina fled her country on a military helicopter amid mounting political pressure. She was flown to an army air base in Bangladesh where she boarded a military transport aircraft. Later, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced Hasina’s resignation, adding that an interim government would be formed.
Nobel Laureate Mohammud Yunus, who has expressed disappointment over India’s reaction to the crisis, is expected to be a key adviser to this government.
‘Monitoring status of minorities’
In his address to Parliament, Jaishankar said India was monitoring the situation in Bangladesh with concern, especially the state of its minorities.
“We remain deeply concerned until law and order is visibly restored,” he said.
“Properties associated with individuals part of the (previous) regime were torched across the country. What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples, came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is not clear,” he added.
On Tuesday morning, Jaishankar chaired an all-party meeting in Parliament and briefed leaders about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh. “Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that was extended,” he said in a statement on X.
Briefed an All-Party meeting in Parliament today about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh.
Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that was extended. pic.twitter.com/tiitk5M5zn
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 6, 2024
Various countries have voiced concern about the situation in the South Asian country which recently saw some of the worst violence since its birth five decades ago.
The UK has called for a United Nations-led investigation while Canada wanted a “full and impartial” probe. The US welcomed the new interim government in Dhaka and called for “accountability” of alleged human rights violations during the protests
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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