New Delhi: As discussions in Dhaka continue regarding the formation of an interim government, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled the country earlier today, arrived at the Hindon Indian Air Force base near Delhi, where she met with India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval.
On Monday afternoon, Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Prime Minister Hasina had resigned and left the country. He also stated that the army had taken the initiative to consult with political parties, except for the former ruling party Awami League, to form an interim government.
Sheikh Hasina boarded a military helicopter for a brief flight across the border into Indian territory. She then landed at the Hindon Indian Air Force base in Ghaziabad around 6 p.m. local time.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met her at the air base, but the details of their discussions remain undisclosed.
Strategic implications for India
Shortly after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to address the dramatic developments in Bangladesh.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P.K. Mishra, and the heads of intelligence agencies.
As per Congress sources, Jaishankar also met with the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in parliament house.
There has been no official statement from India till now, either on the developments in Bangladesh or the arrival of Hasina in New Delhi.
Hasina’s sudden departure after more than 15 years in power has strategic implications for India, which was seen as the staunchest backer of the erstwhile Awami League-led government.
Hasina’s daughter is currently based in Delhi, as she is the head of the World Health Organisation’s South East Asia region, headquartered in the Indian capital.
However, it is not yet clear if Sheikh Hasina will have an extended stay in India. She has reportedly reached out to the United Kingdom for asylum. Hasina’s sister, Sheikh Rehana, who left Dhaka with her, holds UK citizenship.
Earlier, there were unconfirmed reports which said that Hasina had landed in Tripura’s Agartala. However, Union home secretary P.K. Chakravarty told PTI, “We have no such information.”
Protestors storm into Hasina’s official residence
Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh saw widespread violence which left over 100 people dead in student-led street protests demanding the resignation of the Awami League government.
An indefinite curfew was in place across the country, leaving the roads deserted.
However, as the hours passed, people began to slowly appear on the streets, defying the restrictions.
It was clear which way the wind was blowing when the Bangladesh army dismantled barricades on the roads around 2 pm, leading to scenes of jubilation across the country.
People were seen rushing through the gates of Ganabhaban, the complex of the Prime Minister’s office, walking on the green laws and barging into the offices. They also entered the Parliament House and the
Mirroring the events in Sri Lanka in 2022, TV channels showed mobs taking away chairs, luggage and all kinds of furniture from within the government building, while others partook from dishes left in the dining room.
“Palaiche, palaiche, Sheikh Hasina palaiche,” were the slogans of the people, as the gates of Ganabhaban saw a traffic jam of cycle rickshaws pilled with office chairs.
Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, told the BBC that his mother has no plans for a political comeback, stating she was “so disappointed that after all her hard work, for a minority to rise up against her.”
Joy stated that his mother had been considering resignation since Sunday and left the country for her own safety at the insistence of her family.
Interim government to take over
After several delays, Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman held a nationally broadcast press conference in the afternoon, where he tried to project a sense of calm.
“You must know that we in the midst of a ‘Kranti kaal’. I had called all the political parties’ leaders. We had a constructive discussion. We decided that we will form an interim government,” he said.
The army general also stated that Sheikh Hasina had resigned from the post of Bangladesh prime minister.
Wake noted they were going to meet Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin to discuss the further course of action.
Interestingly, he added that leaders from Opposition political parties like Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat and Jatiya party had agreed to his proposal, but also made clear that no Awami League leaders were part of the discussions.
While he stated that talks for an interim government were in an “early stage,” he underlined that they would find a solution by tonight or in a couple of days at the maximum.
In answer to queries, the Army chief said that there would be no need for curfew, if the situation remained peaceful.
Asking for patience and cooperation, he said that violence will “not achieve anything” and asked people to “stop this kind of agitation”. He has also appealed to all the students and protestors to go back home, adding that all their grievances will be addressed.
Meanwhile, smoke rose across the Bangladeshi capital, as demonstrators set ablaze the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the Awami League president’s office, and the party’s district office.
Television footage and social media images revealed scenes of protesters damaging a massive statue of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is also the father of Sheikh Hasina.
As the violence spiralled, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate issued a statement from the Army chief calling on the public to refrain from causing damage to any property or harm to lives.
Additionally, student organisers of the Quota reform movement and civil society members came on television appealing to the end of violence and vandalisation of public property.
India silent and the world reacts
While India has maintained silence, the spokesperson of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reported that Lone was “deeply concerned by the violence we’ve seen in Bangladesh in recent weeks and that has obviously escalated in recent days”. “The very significant loss of life, including of students, children and law enforcement officers, is completely unacceptable,” he said.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called for “a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks”.
He also stated that all sides “now need to work together to end the violence, restore calm, deescalate the situation and prevent any further loss of life”.
“The UK wants to see action taken to ensure Bangladesh a peaceful and democratic future,” he said.
There has been no comment on the reports of the request for asylum by the former Bangladesh prime minister.
The European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that it was “vital that an orderly and peaceful transition towards a democratically elected government is ensured, in full respect of human rights and democratic principles”.
Bangladesh: We call for calm and restraint.
It is vital that a peaceful transition towards a democratically elected government is ensured, in full respect of human rights and democratic principles.
Accountability for human rights violations is crucial.https://t.co/ZsKEzYNWB1
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 5, 2024
US Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer stated that Hasina’s continued rule was made “untenable” due to the violent crackdown on protestors.
“I applaud the brave protestors & demand justice for those killed. It’s critical to establish a balanced interim government that respects the rights of all & sets up democratic elections swiftly,” he posted.
PM Hasina’s violent reaction to legitimate protests made her continued rule untenable
I applaud the brave protestors & demand justice for those killed
It’s critical to establish a balanced interim government that respects the rights of all & sets up democratic elections swiftly https://t.co/cUpqacR8jX
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 5, 2024
There has been no reaction from China, till now.
Student-led protests
Over 100 people were killed and more than a thousand were injured as a fresh wave of violence erupted in Bangladesh on Sunday, which was the first day of the student-led non-cooperation movement, aimed to mount pressure on Sheikh Hasina to step down.
Ruling party activists and the police clashed with anti-government protesters, in around 20 districts of the country, reported The Daily Star.
Bangaldesh student protests. Photo: X (Twitter)/@trahmanbnp
In the country’s northern district of Sirajganj, an angry mob attacked a police station and 13 police personnel were beaten to death. In another incident, at least five people died in clashes in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj. With 18 deaths, Sirajganj has the highest death toll among all other districts from the violence on August 4.
As the violence escalated, mobs also torched and vandalised the homes of lawmakers from the ruling party, Awami League offices, police stations, vehicles of police personnel, prison vans and hospital buses.
Following the unabated violence, the Sheikh Hasina government tightened a nationwide curfew and blocked 4G mobile internet.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs advised Indian citizens in Bangladesh to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka with their emergency phone numbers.
India had initially suspended the Maitri Express, Bandhan Express, and Mitali Express from July 19 to August 6 due to the violent protests.
On Monday, the Indian Railway Ministry extended the suspension indefinitely.
In addition, Air India and IndiGo airlines announced the cancellation of flights to Dhaka on Monday.
The ongoing protests started in response to the high court’s verdict declaring a circular issued in 2018 cancelling the 30% quota for freedom fighters’ descendants in government jobs illegal. The quota system reserved 30% of government posts for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters, 10% for women and 10% for residents of specific districts. There are also quotas for ethnic minorities and disabled people but the students are not opposing those.
On July 21, the Bangladesh Supreme Court ordered 93% of the government jobs in the country to be allocated on a merit-based system. Under the revised system, 5% of civil service positions will still be reserved for children of war veterans who fought for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. An additional 2% will be allocated to other designated categories.