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 10:03 AM IST
Govt calls all-party meeting on Bangladesh issue at 10 am
The government has called an all-party meeting on Tuesday on the Bangladesh issue, sources said.
The meeting will be held at Parliament House at around 10 am, they added.
The neighbouring country has plunged into uncertainty after extraordinary street protest over job quota forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to quit and flee.
She has arrived in India on her way to London, diplomatic sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on the issue on Monday.
- 6 Aug 2024 7:56 AM IST
Student leaders want Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus to head interim government
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus will be the chief adviser to the interim government in Bangladesh, the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced on Tuesday.
In a video posted on social media early Tuesday morning, Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators of the movement, said that Prof Yunus has agreed to take on this crucial responsibility at the call of the student community to save the country, the Daily Star newspaper reported.
"We took 24 hours to announce a framework for the interim government. However, considering the emergency situation, we are announcing it now," Nahid said.
"We have decided that the interim government would be formed in which internationally renowned Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus, who has wide acceptability, would be the chief adviser," said Nahid, flanked by two other coordinators.
His announcement comes hours after President Mohammed Shahabuddin said an interim government would be formed after dissolving the parliament as soon as possible.
- 6 Aug 2024 7:06 AM IST
Hasina will not return to power, says son
The son of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has claimed that his mother is deeply “disappointed” with the protests against her and does not plan to return to power.
In an interview with British public service broadcaster on Monday, Sanjeeb Wazed Joy, who served as an official adviser to Hasina, said she had been thinking about resigning since Sunday and finally left the country after being cajoled by her family to do so.
“She has turned Bangladesh around. When she took over power it was considered a failing state. It was a poor country. Until today it was considered one of the rising tigers of Asia,” he said.
- 6 Aug 2024 7:06 AM IST
Bangladesh President says interim govt to be formed after dissolving parliament
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin said on Monday that an interim government would be formed as soon as possible after dissolving the parliament as he ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted in several cases.
He made the remarks during a meeting with the leaders of various political parties and civil society representatives at Bangabhaban in the presence of the chief of three forces.
Later, in a televised address to the nation, the president said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina submitted her resignation letter to him on Sunday and that he has accepted it, the Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo reported.
"A decision has been taken to form an interim government as soon as possible by dissolving parliament. The army will also take measures to normalise the prevailing anarchic situation," said the president, with the chiefs of the three services standing behind him.
The interim government will hold general elections as soon as possible, he added.
He said the meeting also unanimously decided to release Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted in several cases.
President Shahabuddin also ordered the release of all students arrested during the ongoing protests. He said the families of the victims of the anti-discrimination student movement will be compensated and all necessary assistance will be provided for the treatment of the injured.
He urged the political parties to normalise the law and order situation in the country and stop looting and destructive activities.
"I am directing the armed forces to take stern measures to protect the lives and properties of the people and state assets. I call upon all to come forward to ensure communal harmony, security of minorities and protect government property," he said.
- 6 Aug 2024 6:47 AM IST
'Following situation in Bangladesh very closely,' says UN; calls for calm, restraint
The United Nations is following the situation in Bangladesh "very closely" and calls for calm and restraint in the wake of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and escape from the country, a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday.
"The Secretary-General deplores the further loss of life during protests in Bangladesh over the weekend. He continues to closely follow developments in the country, including the Chief of Army Staff’s announcement regarding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and plans for the formation of an interim government," Farhan Haq, the UN Deputy Spokesperson, told the daily briefing.
"We continue to call for calm and restraint and to urge all parties to respect the right to peaceful assembly and expression," Haq said, adding that the UN urges security forces to protect those out on the streets of Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh.
In response to a question from PTI on the situation, Haq said: "For us, the important things are for the parties to remain calm, and we want to emphasise the importance of a peaceful, orderly and democratic transition. We stand in full solidarity with the people of Bangladesh at this time and we call for full respect for their democratic and human rights. And ultimately, regarding what's happened so far, there's a need for a full, independent and impartial investigation into all acts of violence."
He added that the UN is in touch with authorities in the region, "and our country team is in touch with authorities in Bangladesh.
"But, right now the situation is moving very swiftly. We'll have to see what happens once the dust settles," he added.
- 6 Aug 2024 6:44 AM IST
US monitoring Bangladesh situation closely, interim govt formation should be democratic: NSC
The United States is monitoring the Bangladesh situation "closely" and urges that the formation of an interim government there be democratic and inclusive after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country, according to a White House National Security Council spokesperson.
"We are monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said on Tuesday.
"The United States has long called for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh, and we urge that the interim government formation be democratic and inclusive," the spokesperson said.
