New Delhi. Expressing concern over the unstable situation in Bangladesh, the government on Tuesday said that it is constantly monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country and in the last 24 hours, full contact has been maintained with the officials in Dhaka and security forces on the border have been asked to be extremely vigilant.
In a statement given on the situation in Bangladesh first in Rajya Sabha and later in Lok Sabha on his own initiative, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India has deep relations with Bangladesh for many decades. He said that the situation of instability and violence there has raised concerns here too. Jaishankar said that there was a situation of extreme tension, deep division and polarization in Bangladesh since the elections in January this year and on this basis the situation started deteriorating there with the students’ movement in June.
He said that the movement turned violent, government buildings were attacked, traffic and train services were disrupted. The Foreign Minister said that this continued till July and the situation did not change even after the Supreme Court’s decision on July 21. Jaishankar said that in this situation, India exercised restraint and advocated a solution through dialogue. He said that the same request was made to various political parties and political forces there. He said that whatever happened in the neighboring country, its one-point agenda was that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should resign. The Foreign Minister said that on August 4, attacks on police in police stations, government buildings increased and properties of people associated with the government started being attacked across the country.
He said that attacks on minority businesses and temples at many places in the neighboring country are particularly worrying. Jaishankar said that on August 5, protesters gathered in Dhaka even after curfew. He said, “It is our understanding that after a meeting with officials of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina decided to resign. She had sought permission to come to India for some time yesterday in a very short time and she arrived here yesterday evening.” According to the Foreign Minister, there is still an unstable situation in Bangladesh. He said that Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, while addressing the country on August 5, took responsibility for the situation and talked about forming an interim government.
He said, “We are in constant touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through diplomatic missions.” He said that there are an estimated 19,000 Indian citizens in Bangladesh, including 9,000 students. He said that most of the students have returned to India in July on the advice of the Indian High Commission.
He said that apart from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, there are assistant high commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. Jaishankar said, “Our expectation from the government there is that these diplomatic missions should be provided with the necessary security.” He said, “We expect normal functioning when the situation there is normal.” Jaishankar said, “We are also keeping an eye on the situation of minorities. There are reports that various organizations and groups have taken steps to ensure their security. We welcome them. We will naturally remain concerned until the law and order situation is restored there.” The Foreign Minister said that in view of this complex situation, the forces responsible for security on the border have also been instructed to be extremely vigilant. He said that in the last 24 hours, full contact has been maintained with the officials in Dhaka.