NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the political situation in Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned amidst mounting protests.
Sheikh Hasina arrived at Hindon Air Base near New Delhi on Monday evening in a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. The situation in Bangladesh remains fluid following Hasina’s departure, leading to speculations about her next destination, with some reports suggesting London.
Experts have expressed concern that the unrest in Bangladesh could lead to instability in some areas of India.
Former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla cautioned that instability in Bangladesh might affect neighboring regions in India. He stressed the need for New Delhi to engage with key stakeholders in Dhaka to protect mutual interests.
“An unstable Bangladesh could contribute to instability in our own country, which we want to avoid. Therefore, a peaceful, prosperous, and stable Bangladesh is in India’s best interest. It is crucial that we collaborate with all relevant parties to protect our interests and those of Bangladesh,” Shringla told the news agency.
Air India cancelled its flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect on Monday due to the emerging situation. The airline stated:
“In view of the emerging situation in Bangladesh, we have cancelled the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. We are continuously monitoring the situation and extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Dhaka with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges. Safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priority.”
Celebrations and protests erupted across Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh following Hasina’s resignation and departure. Crowds entered the Ganabhaban, the residence of the Prime Minister, and were seen taking various items from the premises. Prothom Alo, a local media outlet, reported similar incidents at the Parliament building, where people were also seen taking items from inside.
The army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman is reportedly set to hold direct talks with student-teacher representatives in the country. Prothom Alo cited a circular issued by the Directorate of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday evening, indicating upcoming discussions led by the army chief.
Sheikh Hasina arrived at Hindon Air Base near New Delhi on Monday evening in a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. The situation in Bangladesh remains fluid following Hasina’s departure, leading to speculations about her next destination, with some reports suggesting London.
Experts have expressed concern that the unrest in Bangladesh could lead to instability in some areas of India.
Former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla cautioned that instability in Bangladesh might affect neighboring regions in India. He stressed the need for New Delhi to engage with key stakeholders in Dhaka to protect mutual interests.
“An unstable Bangladesh could contribute to instability in our own country, which we want to avoid. Therefore, a peaceful, prosperous, and stable Bangladesh is in India’s best interest. It is crucial that we collaborate with all relevant parties to protect our interests and those of Bangladesh,” Shringla told the news agency.
Air India cancelled its flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect on Monday due to the emerging situation. The airline stated:
“In view of the emerging situation in Bangladesh, we have cancelled the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. We are continuously monitoring the situation and extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Dhaka with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges. Safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priority.”
Celebrations and protests erupted across Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh following Hasina’s resignation and departure. Crowds entered the Ganabhaban, the residence of the Prime Minister, and were seen taking various items from the premises. Prothom Alo, a local media outlet, reported similar incidents at the Parliament building, where people were also seen taking items from inside.
The army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman is reportedly set to hold direct talks with student-teacher representatives in the country. Prothom Alo cited a circular issued by the Directorate of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday evening, indicating upcoming discussions led by the army chief.