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 3:31 PM IST
Bangladesh death toll goes up to 440
The death toll in the anti-government protests in Bangladesh on Tuesday climbed to 440, with 100 more deaths reported after Sheikh Hasina fled the country, according to local media, even as efforts were on by the army to bring the situation under control in the violence-hit nation.
Despite the high death toll, there were signs of a return to normalcy on Tuesday, with police and army patrolling the streets, BDNews24.com news portal said, adding that schools were reopened after a long period of closure due to protests against Hasina.
The situation in Dhaka was largely calm on Tuesday 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, it added.
Bengali language daily Prothom Alo reported that at least 109 people were killed in clashes in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, during the anti-discrimination student movement on Monday.
The newspaper earlier reported the death of 98 people till 12 pm on Sunday. Another 16 deaths were reported in the night. The total death toll stood at 114 on Sunday. “With this, the total death toll stood at 440 in 21 days from July 16 to yesterday,” the paper said.
On the first day after the fall of Hasina’s government, a tense atmosphere prevailed at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the paper reported. Attendance of officers and employees in the ministry offices was significantly low, and ministers and Members of Parliament were notably absent. Those who did come to work were filled with fear and anxiety, it added.
- 6 Aug 2024 3:05 PM IST
Those arrested in Bangladesh being released
The process to release all those arrested in Bangladesh from July 1 to August 5 in relation to the students' protest has started, and many have already been released, Bangladesh media reported. - 6 Aug 2024 3:02 PM IST
Bangladesh parliament dissolved
Bangladeshi President Md Shahabuddin has dissolved the parliament. The Students Against Discrimination had set an ultimatum for the parliament to be dissolved by 3pm on Tuesday. - 6 Aug 2024 2:53 PM IST
Concern shared by all across political spectrum: Jaishankar
Concern about violence and instability in Bangladesh has been shared by all across the political spectrum. The government is in continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through diplomatic missions, says EAM Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha. - 6 Aug 2024 2:51 PM IST
Alert sounded in Bihar
An alert has been sounded in many parts of Bihar in the wake of the unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh, a top police official said on Tuesday.According to Additional Director of Police (Headquarters), JS Gangwar, the alert was issued in the districts close to Bangladesh."An alert has been sounded in all such districts. The police have been instructed to keep vigil in close coordination with central paramilitary forces,” he told PTI.Although no Bihar district is situated along the border with Bangladesh, the state shares a long, porous boundary with Nepal, which has been often used by infiltrators from other countries to sneak into the Indian territory.Besides, districts in the state's densely populated northeastern part ‘Seemanchal’ are said to be vulnerable to influx of illegal immigrants, who enter Bihar via West Bengal. - 6 Aug 2024 2:45 PM IST
Hasina stares at uncertain future; London plan hits hurdle
Sheikh Hasina’s travel plans have hit a roadblock due to certain “uncertainties”, and she is unlikely to move out of India for the next couple of days, PTI has reported citing people in the know.
Hasina (76) is under tight security in an unspecified location. She was set to travel to London from India but is now contemplating other options after the British government indicated she may not get legal protection in the UK against any possible investigation, they said.
The Awami League leader had reportedly planned to travel to London through India and her aides informed Indian authorities about it before she landed in Hindon.
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 few weeks and people of the country “deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events”.
While saying that Hasina’s travel plans have hit certain issues and she may stay in the country for the next couple of days, the people in the know also described the situation as dynamic with no definitive path or clarity on the matter.
- 6 Aug 2024 2:40 PM IST
Hasina took decision at short notice: Jaishankar
Speaking on the situation in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, “Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of security establishments, PM Sheikh Hasina 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."
