Bangladesh protests Highlights: Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, arrived at Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad on Monday (August 5) as part of her intended journey to London, following her resignation amid widespread anti-government protests that have claimed nearly hundreds of lives. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, along with senior officials, met Hasina at the airbase to discuss the situation and convey India’s stance on the developments in Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, to review the situation. Jaishankar also briefed Modi and updated Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on the unfolding crisis.
Hasina has been relocated to a secure location, and while her original plan was to travel to London, there is now some uncertainty about her departure due to unforeseen issues.
Sheikh Hasina Resignation, Bangladesh Protest News Highlights
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) convened on Monday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, where PM Modi was briefed on the unfolding situation in Bangladesh. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with senior officials.
Following her resignation amid escalating protests, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening. She subsequently met with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad to discuss the current situation in Bangladesh and her future plans, according to sources.
Nepal increased security measures along its border with India following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh. The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed security agencies to maintain heightened vigilance to prevent unauthorized entry from the violence-stricken neighboring country. Police reported that the Home Ministry has directed border security personnel to take additional precautions to thwart potential infiltration.
"All security personnel deployed in the border areas have been instructed through circulars to closely monitor and take measures against potential illegal entries and activities from third countries,” said a senior official.
Britain called for “swift action” to restore democracy in Bangladesh amid reports that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking asylum in the UK after fleeing Dhaka due to violent protests. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson expressed deep sadness over the recent violence in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, crowds in East London, a hub for the British Bangladeshi community, celebrated Hasina’s departure by waving flags.
“We hope that swift action is taken to ensure that democracy prevails and accelerate the process towards peace and security for people in Bangladesh,” Starmer's spokesperson said in response to a question on the situation in Bangladesh.
The White House announced on Monday that the United States is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh, where the prime minister has fled amid a crackdown on protests. The U.S. is calling for the interim government formation process to be both democratic and inclusive. "We encourage all parties to refrain from further violence and restore peace as quickly as possible," a National Security Council spokesperson said.
A curfew will be enforced in Bangladesh from midnight to 6 a.m. All government, semi-government, academic institutions, and industries will resume operations starting Tuesday, according to the ISPR, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's President has ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia. This development follows the removal of Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, who was ousted from power and fled the country, leading to a military takeover.
A press release from the Bangladesh President’s office announced that President Shahabuddin chaired a meeting where it was "unanimously decided to release Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately."
Bangladesh is facing a severe political crisis following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure amid violent protests against her government. The unrest, sparked by a controversial job quota system, evolved into broader demands for her removal. Hasina arrived in Ghaziabad, India, and is reported to be preparing for a potential flight to London.
Thousands of protesters in Bangladesh stormed and vandalized Sheikh Hasina's official residence in Dhaka. They shattered a statue of her father, Mujibur Rahman, using hammers and set fire to her party's offices, celebrating her departure as Prime Minister. Sheikh Hasina, 76, resigned and fled the country amid widespread protests against her government’s controversial quota system, which reserved 30% of government jobs for the families of veterans from Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
In response to the unrest in Bangladesh, the Assam government has issued a "high alert" for all districts along the border with the neighboring country, according to a senior official. The districts of Karimganj, Cachar, Dhubri, and South Salmara-Mankachar, which collectively share a 267.5 km international border with Bangladesh, are affected by this alert. "We have alerted all the border districts to be on high alert. We have asked the District Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to personally monitor the border situation," the official told PTI.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) convened today at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, where Prime Minister Modi was updated on the current situation in Bangladesh.
#watch | The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met today at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. In the meeting, PM Modi was briefed about the situation in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/oTzFp9w6WX
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2024
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, on the Bangladesh crisis, said, “Bangladesh is our neighbouring country and the people there are our own brothers and sisters or cousins at the very least and what happens there, effects our neighbourhood in a very intimate way. Bangladesh is a country surrounded by India from three sides...so that is an extremely important concern.”
Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will not return to politics, her son and former adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy confirmed on Monday. Speaking to BBC World Service's Newshour, Joy stated that Hasina left the country for her own safety following pressure from her family. He mentioned that she had been contemplating her resignation since Sunday and decided to flee for her protection. Joy described his mother, who led Bangladesh for 15 years, as "deeply disappointed" by the uprising against her despite her years of hard work.
Sheikh Hasina is expected to meet her daughter, Saima Wazed, who is currently based in Delhi, according to PTI. Wazed serves as the World Health Organization's Regional Director for South-East Asia.
The ICC's internal security team is closely monitoring the unrest in Bangladesh, which has led to the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The decision on whether to proceed with the Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place from October 3 to 20, will be made after assessing the situation further. An interim government will be established in Bangladesh, as announced by Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman on Monday, amidst widespread protests that have claimed over 100 lives in the past two days. For now, the ICC is adopting a "wait and watch" approach.
Meghalaya has imposed a night curfew along its border with Bangladesh amid the ongoing turmoil in the neighboring country, according to the Deputy Chief Minister.
An IndiGo flight from Chennai bound for Dhaka was diverted to Kolkata on Monday due to unrest in Bangladesh and the closure of Dhaka's airport, an official reported. The flight, carrying 81 passengers, landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 4:56 pm and departed for Chennai after refueling. Kolkata airport received a notice in the afternoon indicating that Dhaka's airport would be closed until 10:30 pm.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval recahed Hindon Air Base and met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She has landed in a C-130 transport aircraft. According to the Bangladesh Army Chief, Hasina has resigned from her position, and an interim government will now oversee the country.
Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman has assumed control and discussed the formation of an interim government following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
During the Lok Sabha session, EAM S. Jaishankar and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a discussion on the recent developments in Bangladesh amid the ongoing crisis.
On Monday, an unruly mob damaged the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the Dhanmondi area of Dhaka, according to eyewitnesses. The protesters set fire to several significant locations in Dhaka, including the Bangabandhu Bhaban, also known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, located at Dhanmondi 32, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune. This museum was dedicated to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was assassinated while serving as president in 1975.
EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the current situation in Bangladesh, according to sources.
Indo-Bangladesh trade has come to a halt this afternoon amid the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh following the resignation of President Sheikh Hasina on Monday, according to traders. The Bangladesh government had previously declared a three-day trade holiday starting Sunday, with the exception of essential services. Ujjal Saha, secretary of the West Bengal Exporters Coordination Committee, stated that the lack of clearance from Bangladeshi customs at land ports has caused a complete standstill in both export and import activities.
Air India has announced the immediate cancellation of all scheduled flights to and from Dhaka.
IMPORTANT UPDATE
— Air India (@airindia) August 5, 2024
In view of the emerging situation in Bangladesh, we have cancelled the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings…
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's aircraft has landed at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, according to ANI. The plane will be stationed near the hangars for the Indian Air Force’s C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
"Indian Air Force fighter aircraft were airborne soon after the Bangladeshi C-130 aircraft entered Indian airspace and kept an eye on it for some time. The Indian Air Force and Indian Army were prepared to meet any contingency," said Sources.
Amid the nationwide unrest, Bangladesh's international airport in the capital, Dhaka, is closed for six hours, according to the army.
Sheikh Hasina has arrived at Hindon Airbase.
Bangladesh telecom operator Grameenphone has restored 3G and 4G networks, enabling nationwide access to mobile internet services, Norway's Telenor informed Reuters on Monday. Telenor is the largest shareholder in Grameenphone.
Following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure from the country, protesters set fire to the residence of Bangladesh's founder, Mujibur Rahman.