New Delhi: Union minister for external affairs S. Jaishankar said in parliament on Tuesday, August 6, that former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina requested approval at a “very short notice” to come to India “for the moment”.
In his suo motu address delivered separately to both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar said that the Indian government is in constant touch with authorities in Bangladesh and is also “monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities”.
Suo-moto statement in Loksabha on the situation in Bangladesh. https://t.co/2I1fPt2cGT
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 6, 2024
Hasina, who was in power for 15 years in Bangladesh, resigned and fled the country on Monday amid mass protests. She landed in the Indian capital on Monday evening and has been here since.
Nearly 24 hours later, India broke its silence on the overthrow of the Hasina government, one of India’s staunchest allies in the region.
His words were significantly measured compared to reactions from Western capitals, with India trying to avoid the appearance of prescribing any course of action for Bangladesh’s future during this period, when every word was being scrutinised in Dhaka’s new polity.
In his speech, Jaishankar said that on August 5 (Monday) demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew.
“Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, prime minister Sheikh Hasina apparently decided to resign. At very short notice she requested approval to come for the moment to India,” he said.
“We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from the Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi.”
Jaishankar said that the situation in Bangladesh is “still evolving” and that the Indian government is in close contact with the Indian community in Bangladesh.
“The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving. The Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman addressed the nation on August 5. He spoke about assuming responsibility and continuing an interim government,” 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 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students have already returned to India in July on the advice of the High Commission.”
With reports of Hindus in Bangladesh being targeted by radical Islamist elements in the backdrop of unrest, Jaishankar said that the Indian government is closely monitoring the status of minorities in the country and welcomed reports of Muslim leaders and student groups guarding churches and temples.
“We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their protection and well-being. We welcome that but we will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Our border guarding forces have been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation,” he said.
Jaishankar said that in the last 24 hours, the Indian government has been in “regular touch” with authorities in Dhaka and sought support from the House on sensitive issues regarding “an important neighbour on which there has always been a strong national consensus.”
Notably, India’s statement, which lacks any endorsement of the changes in Bangladesh, omits several points that were common among the US, EU, Australia and the UK.
The US state department had said that it “[stood] with the people of Bangladesh”, while stating that it “welcome[d]” the announcement of an interim government.
Just like Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, all of them conveyed condolences for the deaths of all those killed in the violent clashes.
Further, Canada, the EU and the UK also called for a full investigation to ensure accountability into crimes committed in recent weeks. UK foreign minister David Lammy went further and asked for an “independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks”.
There were also repeated exhortations for a transition to a democratically elected government and respect for democratic principles.
Later, the US and EU specifically expressed concern about multiple attacks against members of minority groups and their places of worship.
In contrast, Russia, which built Bangladesh’s nuclear power plant, stated that developments in Bangladesh were an “internal affair”.
Its statement added: “However, we look forward to the internal political processes in that friendly country returning to the constitutional norms as soon as possible.”
China also broke its silence with a short statement. The Chinese foreign ministry said: “China is following closely the developments in Bangladesh. As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that social stability will be restored soon in the country.”
Prior to his suo motu address in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar chaired an all-party meeting in Parliament and said that he appreciated “the unanimous support and understanding that was extended.”
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
Along with Jaishankar, Union minister for defence Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, health minister and BJP chief J.P. Nadda also attended the meeting from the government side along with Union ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) and Lallan Singh of the JD(U).
Among opposition parties, Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and K.C Venugopal, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, YSRCP MP Vijay Sai Reddy, NCP MP Supriya Sule, RJD MP Misa Bharti among others also attended the meeting.
However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that they had not been invited to the meeting.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in a statement said that the issue of national security does not depend on who the prime minister is “happy with”.
“The issue of national security does not depend on who the Prime Minister is happy with or angry with. Not inviting the Aam Aadmi Party, a national party with 13 MPs, to this important all-party meeting shows the petty mentality and lack of seriousness of the government,” he said.
