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
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President orders release of Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahbuddin ordered the release of former prime minister and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia, who was jailed by the Hasina regime on charges of corruption.
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Sheikh Hasina meets Ajit Doval; moved to a safer location
National security advisor Ajit Doval and senior military officials met the Bangladeshi ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the Hindon Airbase, according to an ANI report.
Sources added that the Indian Air Force and other security agencies are providing security for her, and she is being moved to a safe location.
At the Hindon Air Base, Hasina discussed the present situation in Bangladesh with Ajit Doval and her future course of action.
- 5 Aug 2024 8:04 PM IST
Rahul discusses Bangladesh crisis with Jaishankar
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Parliament House on Monday and discussed the development in Bangladesh, Congress sources said.
"Rahul met Jaishankar on the sidelines in the Lok Sabha, Parliament House complex, and discussed the recent developments in Bangladesh," a Congress source said.
- 5 Aug 2024 8:00 PM IST
Looting, arson in Dhaka; 20 killed
Widespread celebrations have erupted across Dhaka. However, there have also been scattered incidents of looting, with AFP reporting that at least 20 people have been killed in Dhaka amidst the unrest.
- 5 Aug 2024 6:51 PM IST
Air India cancels all flights to Dhaka
Air India has cancelled all the scheduled flight services to and from Dhaka with immediate effect.
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Bangladesh crisis: India keeps close watch
According to an NDTV report, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Bangladesh stalemate.
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Protesters damage Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka
An unruly mob on Monday (August 5) damaged the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum located at the Dhanmondi area in the Bangladesh capital, eyewitnesses said.
The protesters on Monday afternoon set fire to several key locations in Dhaka, including Bangabandhu Bhaban, also known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, at Dhanmondi 32, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
The museum was dedicated to Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was assassinated while serving as president in 1975.
The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre located in the same area was also damaged by the unruly mob, according to eyewitnesses.
The development comes as a massive protest forced Prime Minister Sheikh to resign and leave Bangladesh. Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced that an interim government was being formed and urged protesters to end the violence.
The Centre, formally inaugurated in March 2010, promotes bilateral cultural linkages between India and Bangladesh by organising cultural programmes, cultural seminars, workshops, and engaging India-based gurus, professionals, and trainers for Yoga, Hindi, Indian classical vocal music and Indian dances such as Kathak and Manipuri.
It also engages high-class professionals from Bangladesh who had their training from Indian gurus or in Indian universities.
The Centre, a Cultural 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.
- 5 Aug 2024 6:34 PM IST
Police tighten security at Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi
The Delhi Police has beefed up security at the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi in the wake of Sheikh Hasina's resignation as prime minister and an imminent takeover by an interim government in the neighbouring country.
Police have also tightened security outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in case Hasina lands in the national capital, an officer said.
Hasina has resigned and an interim government is taking over, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced on Monday (August 5).
There were unconfirmed reports that she was headed to a city in India.
"More barricades have been placed outside the commission and the number of police personnel deployed there has been increased," a Delhi Police officer said.
Several senior police officers, including New Delhi district's Deputy Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahla, visited the high commission to check the security arrangements, an informed source said. More than 100 people have been killed in the protests against the Hasina government in Bangladesh in the last two days.
The country has been witnessing fierce demonstrations over the controversial quota system that reserves 30 per cent of jobs for the families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war.
