Bangladesh unrest LIVE | US revokes Hasina’s visa: Reports
Bangladesh parliament dissolved; Hasina faces uncertain future, may stay in India for a couple of days; UK says it won't protect her from facing UN probe
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (August 6) told an all-party meeting that India has assured help to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who arrived in the country on Monday evening, and given her time to decide the future course of action, sources said.
Briefing leaders of various political parties in Parliament House, Jaishankar said India has spoken to the Bangladesh Army Chief to ensure the safety of over 10,000 Indian students in that country, the sources said.
Noting that it has been not even 24 hours since Hasina arrived in India, he said Hasina 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, the sources said.
Yunus to helm new govt
Before the Bangladesh dissolved on Tuesday afternoon, Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus agreed to helm the new government.
The Federal had carried an exclusive report about speculations on Yunus’ possible appointment, on Monday.
The demand to make Yunus the chief adviser to the interim government had been put forth by the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
More than 440 killed in violence
The overall death toll in the violence related to students' reached 440 as chaos reined supreme hours after Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister and fled the country on Monday. 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 situation in Dhaka was largely calm on Tuesday morning after a day of unrest and a night of tension. Buses and other public transport were on the streets and traders were opening shops.
London plan dropped?
The Bangladesh Air Force C-130J transport aircraft, which brought Hasina to India, departed Hindon airbase at 9 am without her, carrying seven military personnel back to Bangladesh. Hasina landed at the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad on Monday as part of her plan to go to London. However, her plan has hit a roadblock and she is unlikely to move out of India for the next couple of days.
The decision came after the UK government indicated that she may not get legal protection against any possible probe into the massive violent protests in her country. Hasina decided to travel to London as Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddiq is a member of the British Parliament. Tulip is economic secretary to the Treasury and Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate.
May go to Finland
In a statement, British foreign secretary David Lammy said in London on Monday that Bangladesh has seen unprecedented levels of violence and tragic loss of life in the last two weeks and people of the country “deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events”.
It is also learnt that Hasina has family members in Finland as well and that is why she also contemplated leaving for the northern European country. So far, there is no clarity on the matter.
Live Updates
- 6 Aug 2024 6:37 PM IST
Hindu temples, households vandalised
A number of Hindu temples, households and businesses were vandalised, women assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League killed in violence in Bangladesh following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, PTI has reported quoting community leaders.
“We have compiled some incidents of vandalism in different parts of the country exposing the Hindu and other minority communities to anxiety,” Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council leader Kajol Debnath told PTI.
According to the available information, two Hindu leaders, who were incidentally leaders of Hasina’s Awami League party, were killed in north-western Sirajganj and Rangpur, Debnath said, adding that the Council was still gathering more information.
Debnath said the attackers “plundered shops, temples and houses and assaulted Hindu women” while many were injured during the assaults amid the fast-paced political developments following the fall of Hasina’s government.
According to the Council leaders, the districts where religious minorities and their households or businesses were attacked are north-eastern Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogura and Sirajganj; northern Sherpur and Kishoreganj; western Jashore, Magura and Narail, south-western Khulna, Patuakhali and Satkhira; central Narsingdi, Mymensingh and Tangail; north-western Lakkhipur, Feni and Chattogram, and north-eastern Habiganj.
“The situation is grave and Hindus are being continuously attacked across Bangladesh,” the Unity Council’s general secretary Rana Dasgupta said in a statement earlier.
“We urge the army to ensure security for the minorities and bring the perpetrators of the attack to book immediately,” he added.
Debnath, meanwhile, said they would come up with details on the attacks later on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka was vandalised by an unruly mob and four Hindu temples suffered “minor” damage across the country. The Centre, of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations of India, has a library with over 21,000 books in the fields of Indian art, culture, politics, economics and fiction.
- 6 Aug 2024 6:25 PM IST
Hasina's ministers arrested
Hasan Mahmud, foreign minister in the Hasina government, and Junaid Ahmed Palak, telecom minister in her government, were arrested from Dhaka airport on Tuesday as they were trying to flee the country. Many of their colleagues and other Awami League leaders have gone into hiding. - 6 Aug 2024 6:21 PM IST
Student leaders meet Bangladesh president
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin is holding a meeting with representatives of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement at the Bangabhaban, The Daily Star reported. The student leaders are likely to talk about formation of the interim government, it said. - 6 Aug 2024 6:18 PM IST
Vistara to resume Dhaka flights from tomorrow
Vistara's scheduled services to Dhaka will be operational from Wednesday (August 7).
Vistara operates daily flights from Mumbai and three weekly services from Delhi to Dhaka.
Both Vistara and IndiGo had cancelled their Tuesday flights to the Bangladesh capital.
An update from IndiGo on Dhaka flights for Wednesday is awaited.
Normally, IndiGo operates one daily flight from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to Dhaka, and two daily services to the Bangladesh capital from Kolkata.
- 6 Aug 2024 6:10 PM IST
Major reshuffle in Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army has made a major reshuffle in its top ranks with Maj. Gen. Ziaul Ahsan being relieved from service and some others being reassigned. Major Zia was the director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC). He will be replaced by Maj. Gen. ASM Ridwanur Rahman.Among others, Lt Gen. Md Saiful Alam has been assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Lt Gen. Md Mojibur Rahman has been appointed as the GOC Army Training and Doctrine Command; Lt Gen Ahmad Tabrez Shams Chowdhury as Quartermaster General of Army; Lt Gen Mizanur Rahman Shamim as Chief of General Staff of Army; Lt Gen Mohammad Shahinul Haque as Commandant NDC. - 6 Aug 2024 5:32 PM IST
BSF tightens watch along border
The BSF held meetings on Tuesday with state government officials and villagers in the border areas of West Bengal to ramp up security following the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.
BSF Director General (Acting) Daljit Singh Chawdhary and other senior commanders, who are presently touring the bordering areas of the state to review the security situation, visited the Petrapole border in Bongaon in North 24-Parganas district.
South Asia’s largest land port is in Petrapole, which is key to facilitating trade between India and Bangladesh.
“The situation is presently under control. The security along the entire stretch has been strengthened. We are in touch with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) for better coordination. The DG BSF and other senior officials, visited the Petrapole border,” a BSF official of the eastern command told PTI.
According to BSF, a “high alert” was issued across all its formations on Monday along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border in the wake of developments in the neighbouring country.
“The BSF officers held a coordination meeting with the state government officials and people of border villages to establish coordination with border communities and local officials. The discussion focused on the prevailing situation in Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi Army taking over. The BSF emphasised the need for vigilance to prevent infiltration and smuggling,” a BSF statement said.
According to BSF officials, the villagers have been advised not to move freely in the border areas and on the International Border Road during night hours.
“It was also decided that all shops in the market should be closed by 9 pm and announcements would be made from mosques that villagers should stay away from the border areas in Nadia district,” the statement added.
The BSF has also asked all its units to “maintain an alert posture” all along the front that runs across West Bengal (2,217 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Assam (262 km) and Mizoram (318 km).
- 6 Aug 2024 5:18 PM IST
What UK immigration rules say
Individuals cannot travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge, NDTV has reported quoting the UK Home Office. “Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach — that is the fastest route to safety,” a UK Home Office spokesperson told NDTV. However, a formal asylum request is reportedly being processed. - 6 Aug 2024 4:58 PM IST
Tripura CM requests forces to increase border vigil
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday requested security agencies to intensify vigil along the international border. Saha said he was in touch with Delhi and held a meeting with the Chief Secretary, DGP, Assam Rifles, and BSF on Monday to discuss the situation.
“We are keeping a close eye on the situation in Bangladesh. I have been in touch with Delhi constantly. I held a meeting with the Chief Secretary, DGP, Assam Rifles and BSF. I asked them to intensify vigil along the border. We will take steps based on instructions from Delhi,” he told reporters.
The CM also emphasised the importance of coordination among security forces and instructed them to prevent any crossings from Bangladesh into Tripura. “The security agencies were instructed not to allow anyone to enter India,” he added.
Saha said while Delhi is seeking updates on any potential issues arising from the political upheaval, there have been no detailed directives so far. “Delhi wanted to know if there is any problem in the state in the aftermath of political turmoil in Bangladesh. I said as such there is no trouble,” the CM said.
On attack on minorities in Bangladesh, Saha said his government was keeping tabs on the development in the neighbouring country. “Social media reports indicate that the majority community in Bangladesh is taking steps to protect minority groups. For instance, some students have been seen guarding temples. It’s a good sign,” he said.
