Neighboring country Bangladesh is grappling with a political crisis. The Indian government is also keeping a close watch on the situation there. On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar gave a statement in the Rajya Sabha regarding the conditions in Bangladesh, clarifying India's stance. The External Affairs Minister mentioned that people in Bangladesh are out on the streets and Hindu minorities are being specifically targeted. Jaishankar assured that the situation of minorities is being monitored. Protesters even attacked the police, escalating the situation. The minister also revealed that after resignation, Sheikh Hasina requested permission to come to India.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to give another statement in the Lok Sabha at 3:30 PM. Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, the central government convened an all-party meeting. In this meeting, Jaishankar stressed that the situation in Bangladesh is not so dire as to necessitate the evacuation of 12,000-13,000 Indians. He mentioned that out of the 20,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh, around 8,000 have already returned. He emphasized that the Indian government is keeping a close eye on the developments in Bangladesh. Over 300 people have been killed in the protests. The all-party meeting saw participation from NDA allies, opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, among others. However, the AAP claimed it was not invited to the meeting.
'India is Vigilant Over the Situation'
In his Rajya Sabha address, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar mentioned that violence in Bangladesh has been ongoing since July. On July 21, the Supreme Court overturned a High Court decision concerning reservations, sparking continued protests. The situation worsened on August 4, with protesters attacking the police and damaging public property. A curfew was imposed on August 5, yet marches continued. The Army Chief addressed the nation, urging peace. Hindu minorities were targeted in the violence. Our government remains in touch with the Indian community and monitors the minorities' situation. Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and, on very short notice, sought permission to come to India. Following this series of events, border vigilance was heightened, and the BSF was put on alert. We are also in touch with Dhaka's administration. India is prepared to deal with any situation. The External Affairs Minister additionally mentioned brief discussions with Hasina.
Sources indicate the government intends to give Hasina some time to outline her future plans. Jaishankar stated that the situation in Bangladesh remains unstable, with attacks on temples, as well as Hindu homes and businesses.
On Monday, a coup occurred in Bangladesh. An interim government formation is underway. Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh for India around noon on Monday and is currently at a secure location at Ghaziabad's Hindon Airbase.
Reports indicate that in Mehrapur, Khulna, Bangladesh, an ISKCON temple and a Kali temple were vandalized and set ablaze. Two Hindu councilors were allegedly beaten to death by a mob.
Key Points from the All-Party Meeting
In the all-party meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reassured that India has promised assistance to Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Given Hasina's current state of shock, the government is allowing her time before further discussions. Sources shared that Jaishankar mentioned India's dialogue with Bangladesh's Army Chief regarding the safety of over 10,000 Indian students. Addressing queries from opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Jaishankar did not dismiss the potential role of foreign governments in exacerbating the unrest but emphasized the situation's volatility and ongoing monitoring by the government. He noted, however, that circumstances are evolving.
Rahul Gandhi questioned whether foreign governments might be involved in fueling the crisis. Jaishankar responded that minority homes and properties were targeted by protesters. Gandhi and other leaders expressed full support for the government in this matter. YSR Congress leader V. Vijayasai Reddy affirmed his party's support for the government in the national interest.
Hasina has been in India for less than 24 hours. She mentioned being in shock, and the government is allowing her time to recover before engaging in discussions about her future plans and various issues.
After the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X, "Shared details about ongoing developments in Bangladesh during the all-party meeting in Parliament today. Grateful for the unanimous support."
The all-party meeting included Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister JP Nadda, JDU leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', JDS leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, DMK leader TR Baalu, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, NCP leader Supriya Sule, and other key leaders.
