“At very short notice, Sheikh Hasina requested to come to India…”: S. Jaishankar

Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had requested permission to land in India on short notice amidst escalating protests in Bangladesh following her resignation. Speaking on the floor of the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar highlighted India's concern over the situation, particularly regarding the safety of minorities until law and order are restored. He noted that while various groups and organizations have initiated efforts to protect and ensure the well-being of minorities, India will remain deeply concerned until law and order is restored, adding that the situation in Bangladesh is “still evolving.”

“Our understanding is that after a meeting with the leaders of the security establishments, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. At very short notice, she requested for approval to come for the moment to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi,” said the Union Minister of External Affairs.

Jaishankar outlined the recent developments in Bangladesh, noting that despite a Supreme Court ruling, public protests have persisted. “The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda that is that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down… Events took a very serious turn, attacks on the police, including police stations and government installations intensified, even as overall levels of violence escalated. Properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched across the country. What was particularly worrying that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack on multiple locations; the full extent of this is still not clear,” said Jaishankar adding that following the upheaval, Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country and sought permission from India to stay for the moment. He added that the Indian government is actively monitoring the situation and maintaining close contact with its citizens in Bangladesh, which include around 19,000 nationals, with approximately 9,000 being students. Many of these students had already returned to India in July.

The Minister detailed the escalating situation in Bangladesh, which began with significant political tension following the January 2024 general elections. The unrest intensified with student protests that started in June. Jaishankar said that throughout this period, India consistently urged for restraint and dialogue to defuse the situation.

He added that the situation in Bangladesh is “still evolving” and that the army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman addressed the nation on August 5, and spoke about assuming responsibility and constituting an interim government. “In terms of our diplomatic presence in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet, it is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments, we look forward to the normal functioning once the situation stabilizes. We are also monitoring the situation with regards to the minorities; there are reports of initiatives by various groups and organizations to ensure their protection and well-being, we welcome that, but, will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is restored,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar informed an all-party meeting that India has extended support to the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who arrived in India on Monday. Hasina’s departure from Dhaka was amidst intense protests against a government job quota system, which escalated into a broader challenge to her 15-year leadership. The protests led to the storming of her official residence and other related buildings. The situation prompted the temporary suspension of operations at Dhaka's main airport due to security concerns. A curfew was imposed from Monday midnight to 6 am on Tuesday in light of the ongoing unrest.

As Bangladesh prepares to establish an interim government, Army Chief Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman has begun discussions with the President, opposition parties, and civil society members, though the ruling Awami League has not been involved in these talks. BNP leader and former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was also released from house arrest following orders from the President. The Army Chief is also set to meet with protesting student leaders.