Screenshot of a video showing S Jaishankar while briefing Parliament on the Bangladesh situation.
New Delhi: The foreign minister, S Jaishankar, briefed the Rajya Sabha on the political upheaval in Bangladesh, which led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina Wazed – the country’s prime minister. On Tuesday, the minister provided a detailed account of the events that transpired and outlined India’s response to the evolving situation.
Jaishankar also expressed India’s concerns about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh in the ongoing violence in the country.
In a statement in the Upper House of Parliament, Jaishankar said the situation in Bangladesh had escalated rapidly over the past few days. On August 4, violent protests intensified, targeting police stations, government installations, and properties associated with the Hasina regime and minorities. Despite a curfew, demonstrators converged in Dhaka on August 5, leading to further chaos. Following a meeting with security officials, Sheikh Hasina decided to resign from her position.
The foreign minister revealed that Hasina requested permission to travel to India at “very short notice”. Her aircraft, a Bangladesh Air Force C-130J transport plane, landed at the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad near Delhi on Monday evening. She has since been moved to an undisclosed location under tight security.
India ‘deeply concerned’ about Bangladesh minorities
Jaishankar emphasized that India remains “deeply concerned” about the status of minorities in Bangladesh and the overall law and order situation.
He said, “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.”
Later, he further said, “We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organizations to ensure their protection and well-being. We welcome that but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored.”
He assured the House that India is in close and continuous communication with the Indian community in Bangladesh, which includes approximately 19,000 Indian nationals, of whom about 9,000 are students. Many of these students had already returned to India in July.
The minister also highlighted that India is offering support to Sheikh Hasina during this critical period. He mentioned that the Indian government is giving her time to decide on her future course of action.
Muslims guard Hindu temples, properties after attacks
Following the reports of attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, several Muslim organizations, groups, and individuals in the country have come forward to guard Hindu properties, including temples. Images of Muslims guarding temples went viral on social media, on Tuesday.
Bangladesh’s Muslim clerics are voluntarily guarding a Hindu temple in Cumilla after reports of attacks on Hindu communities and their places of worship prompted politicians and protest leaders to call for 'resisting' those committing violence.
— Nazmul Ahasan (@the_nazmul) August 5, 2024
Photo by Billah Mamun/Facebook pic.twitter.com/DPmGQXU0AU
Mosques in the country repeatedly called for calm and cessation of all violence towards Hindus and other minorities.
A Special Announcement on a loudspeaker from inside the Mosque in Bangladesh.
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 5, 2024
"Dear Citizens,
We 'Students Against Discrimination' are requesting you, during this period of unrest in the country, We all must maintain communal harmony. We should protect Hindu minorities.… pic.twitter.com/LUtSVWCZee
Bangladeshi media reports said two Hindu men have been killed, so far, in the ongoing mob violence in the country.
In an incident, Haradhan Roy Hara, a Hindu councillor from Rangpur and a member of the Awami League in Parshuram Thana, was killed by a mob on Tuesday. On the same day, another Rangpur Hindu councillor belonging to the Awami League, Kajal Roy, was shot dead.
There have also been reports of mob attacks on an Iskcon temple in Meherpur district and a Kali temple.
Gobindo Pramanik, leader of Bangladesh Jatiyo Hindu Mohajote – a prominent Bangladesh Hindu organization, said there have been attacks on both Hindu and Muslim Awami League activists who took part in the violence against protesters (during Hasina’s time). There have been sporadic attacks on Hindu properties but stressed that those were not significant.
He also said (Khaleda Zia’s) BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) activists and Jamaat members have arranged for security of Hindu temples and properties in the country.
হিন্দু মহাজোট নেতা গোবিন্দ চন্দ্র প্রমানিক কি বলেন শুনি , pic.twitter.com/lPXCbtshTv
— MUKTADIR rashid ROMEO (@muktadirnewage) August 6, 2024
Pramanik also lamented the sensational reporting by some sections of Indian media on the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and Hasina’s ouster.
Meanwhile, several Bangladesh media outlets reported over a 100 people have died in the violence that surged after Hasina’s resignation and escape to India. At least 25 people have been reportedly killed in one incident when a mob set a hotel, belonging to a Awami League leader, on fire, on Tuesday. Reports said the violent protesters were looking for a Awami League member of parliament, Shahin Chakladar, at his Zabeer International Hotel in Jessore, and when they couldn’t find him, the mob set the hotel on fire.
Rioters in Bangladesh set fire to the five-star Zabeer International Hotel in the city of Jessore. At least 18 people died in the fire and more than 50 were injured.
— The Global 202 (@theglobal202) August 6, 2024
According to local news agency UNB, the hotel is owned by Shahin Chakladar, a member of parliament from the… pic.twitter.com/Ao5EW7uqsr
The military-led administration has imposed a night curfew starting at 6pm Bangladesh time and announced a three-day closure of non-essential businesses in the capital, Dhaka, and several other cities.
The Bangladesh Army chief and head of the current administration of the country, General Waker-uz-Zaman, said the situation will be brought under control within two days.
