External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday addressed the Rajya Sabha on the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh and termed it ‘still evolving.’ He informed the house that India is in constant touch with the Neighbouring country and is vigilant on the developments. He also informed the House that former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina had requested to come to India.
Following an all-party meeting earlier in the day, the Union Minister of External Affairs told Rajya Sabha that the government is “monitoring situation with regard to the status of minorities” in the neighbouring country.
In Bangladesh, he said student protest coordinators have asked for the parliament to be dissolved by 3 pm today, pushing for the formation of a new interim government at the earliest. Warning of a “strict programme”, they have also asked “revolutionary students to be ready”.
“Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of security establishments, PM Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi,” he said.
“…We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there of which about 9000 are students. The bulk of the students returned in July…We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities.”
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar during an all-party meeting in Parliament briefed the leaders about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh. Jaishankar said that India is maintaining a wait-and-watch strategy on Bangladesh while keeping its Army on the alert.
When Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, asked if the government had any information about the role of any outside forces in the Bangladesh developments, Jaishankar said the government only has “information about a Pakistan diplomat’s changed DP that shows his support to the uprising”, sources said.