Sheikh Hasina asked to come for the moment to India on short notice: S Jaishankar

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, August 6, 2024: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday told the Rajya Sabha that former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina "requested approval to come to India for the moment" on very short notice in the wake of the political turmoil in the South Asian nation.

"Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of security establishments, PM Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. At very short notice, she requested approval to come to India for the moment. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi," he said while briefing the Upper House just hours after the Centre held an all-party meeting to discuss the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh.

Jaishankar also said that prior to her arrival at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad, "we simultaneously received a request of flight clearance from authorities in Bangladesh".

He further stated that the government was in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through its diplomatic missions.

"There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there of which about 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students returned in July. We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities," Jaishankar added.

In the past few weeks, Hasina faced massive backlash in the form of violent protests and widespread riots over the controversial quota system. The protests claimed the lives of over 300 people. Protesters on the streets of Dhaka were seen holding banners that read "Quit Hasina". Due to escalating riots, Hasina has now resigned from Bangladesh’s prime minister post and fled from Dhaka to Delhi.

The protests against a quota system for government jobs turned violent on July 16 when student activists clashed with security officials and pro-government activists, prompting authorities to disperse tear gas, fire rubber bullets and impose a curfew with a shoot-on-sight order. Internet and mobile data were also turned off.