Bangladesh unrest LIVE | US revokes Hasina’s visa: Reports

An ISKCON temple in Meherpur, in Khulna division was vandalised and set on fire by miscreants as unrest continues in the country after PM Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India.

Protesters stormed the Bangladesh consulate in New York and took down the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh.

Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has agreed to head the interim government in Bangladesh, according to reports. The Bangladesh army chief has convened an all-party meeting to have a consensus on this.

Yunus has been the first choice of student groups in Bangladesh to head the government.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the all-party meeting that it has been not even 24 hours since Hasina arrived in India. He said she is in a state of shock and the government is giving her time to recover before it speaks to her over various issues, including her future plans, said sources.

In the all-party meeting on the Bangladesh issue on Tuesday (August 6), LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed his support for the measures taken in the national interest.

He also questioned whether foreign forces were involved in the incident, and highlighted concerns about the status of minorities in Bangladesh, citing reports of attacks on their properties.

Over 100 people have been killed in the violence across Bangladesh as chaos reined supreme hours after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country on Monday (August 5), reports said on Tuesday (August 6) amid signs of return to normalcy.

The situation in Dhaka was largely calm on Tuesday morning (August 6) after a day of unrest and a night of tension. Buses and other public transport were on the streets and traders were opening shops. Government vehicles were heading to offices. Many battery-run rickshaws plied the roads, BDNews24.com newsportal said.

As the news of Hasina’s departure spread on Monday, hundreds of people broke into her residence, vandalising and looting the interiors, providing dramatic expression to the anti-government protests.

The United States on Tuesday (August 6) recommended its citizens not to travel to Bangladesh, witnessing civil unrest, crime, and terrorism following the resignation and fleeing of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Elevating its travel advisory to the highest ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel’ category, the US State Department has also recommended the departure of non-emergency US government employees and family members.

“On August 5, 2024, the Department ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees and family members. Travellers should not travel to Bangladesh due to ongoing civil unrest in Dhaka,” the State Department said in its advisory.

“Violent clashes have occurred in the city of Dhaka, its neighbouring areas, and throughout Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Army is deployed nationwide. Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport temporarily paused operations on August 5. Travellers should check with their airlines to confirm the status for future flights,” the travel advisory said.

Travellers should be aware of petty crimes such as pickpocketing in crowded areas, the advisory said, adding that crimes such as muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking constitute the majority of criminal activity in Bangladesh's major cities, but there are no indications foreigners are being targeted because of their nationality. These crimes tend to be situational, based on time and location, it said.

According to the travel advisory, terrorist attacks can happen with little or no warning, with terrorists targeting public areas such as tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, restaurants, places of worship, school campuses, and government facilities.

“Because of security concerns, US Embassy personnel in Bangladesh are subject to some movement and travel restrictions. The US government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Bangladesh due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and limited host government emergency response resources,” it added.