Sheikh Hasina Seeks Refuge in India Amidst Bangladesh Unrest: EAM S Jaishankar Updates Rajya Sabha
On August 6, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha about the recent unrest in Bangladesh. He revealed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had requested to come to India at short notice due to escalating violence in her country.
Political Tensions and Violence
Jaishankar explained that since the January 2024 elections, Bangladesh has experienced significant political tensions, deep divides, and growing polarization. This situation worsened with a student agitation that began in June, leading to attacks on public buildings and infrastructure.
India’s Response
India has been in close contact with the Indian community in Bangladesh, which includes around 19,000 nationals, of which 9,000 are students. Most students returned to India in July. Jaishankar emphasized that India has repeatedly urged for restraint and dialogue to resolve the situation.
Sheikh Hasina’s Decision
On August 4, the situation in Bangladesh became more serious with intensified attacks on police and government installations. Properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched, and minorities were targeted. On August 5, despite a curfew, demonstrators gathered in Dhaka. Following a meeting with security leaders, Sheikh Hasina decided to resign and sought refuge in India, arriving in Delhi on August 5.
Current Situation
The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving. The Army Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, has assumed responsibility and is forming an interim government. India is monitoring the situation closely, especially concerning the safety of minorities and Indian nationals. Diplomatic missions in Bangladesh are expected to receive necessary security protection.
Jaishankar concluded by seeking the understanding and support of the Rajya Sabha on this sensitive issue involving an important neighbor.
Doubts Revealed
Sheikh Hasina -: Sheikh Hasina is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, a country next to India. She is a leader who helps run the government there.
Refuge -: Refuge means seeking safety or protection in another place. In this case, Sheikh Hasina is looking for safety in India because of problems in her country.
Bangladesh Unrest -: Unrest means trouble or problems. In Bangladesh, there are fights and political issues happening, making it unsafe.
EAM S Jaishankar -: EAM stands for External Affairs Minister. S Jaishankar is the person in charge of India’s relations with other countries.
Rajya Sabha -: Rajya Sabha is one of the two houses of India’s Parliament, where important discussions and decisions are made.
January 2024 elections -: These are elections that happened in Bangladesh in January 2024 to choose their leaders. After these elections, there were problems and violence.
Minorities -: Minorities are smaller groups of people who are different in some way from the majority of the population. In Bangladesh, this could mean people of different religions or ethnic groups.
Diplomatic efforts -: Diplomatic efforts are actions taken by countries to solve problems through discussion and negotiation, without fighting.
