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 1:28 PM IST
ISKCON temple in Bangladesh targeted
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.
- 6 Aug 2024 1:24 PM IST
Protesters storm Bangladesh consulate in New York
Protesters stormed the Bangladesh consulate in New York and took down the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh.
- 6 Aug 2024 1:21 PM IST
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus agrees to head interim govt
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.
- 6 Aug 2024 1:02 PM IST
Hasina in shock, govt giving her time before speaking to her: Jaishankar
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.
- 6 Aug 2024 12:54 PM IST
Rahul asks govt if foreign forces were involved, raises concerns about minorities’ status
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.
- 6 Aug 2024 12:45 PM IST
Over 100 killed in violence across Bangladesh after Hasina's ouster: Reports
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.
- 6 Aug 2024 12:36 PM IST
US urges its citizens not to travel to Bangladesh
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.
