India adopts wait and watch stance as new era unfolds in Bangladesh

India has assured help to former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who arrived in the country on Monday evening, and has given her time to decide the future course of action, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar reportedly said at an all-party meeting. 

Jaishankar told leaders of opposition parties that India was in touch with the Bangladesh Army to ensure the safety of over 10,000 Indian students in that country, Press Trust of India reported, citing people aware of the developments. 

“Briefed an All-Party meeting in Parliament today about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh. Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that was extended,” Jaishankar said in a post on X after the meeting.

The all-party meeting was attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha  Mallikarjun Kharge, DMK leader T. R. Baalu, and NCP MP Supriya Sule, among others. 

“It’s a prevailing situation. The government will take appropriate action at the right time,” Jaishankar reportedly told the MPs, NDTV reported. 

As a neighbor and ally, India is closely watching the developments in Bangladesh. 

Jaishankar and national security adviser Ajit Doval met Hasina soon after her plane landed at the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad.

Hasina, who is still in India, plans to go to London, media reports said, citing unidentified diplomats aware of the situation.

Jaishankar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and briefed him about the evolving situation in the neighboring country. 

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met at the prime minister’s official residence in the evening to discuss the issue. Rajnath Singh, Shah, Jaishankar, and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman were present at the meeting chaired by Modi. 

Meanwhile, the Border Security force (BSF) issued ‘high alert’ to all units along the 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border amid the unrest. 

Nobel laureate in interim govt?

Hasina resigned from her post on Monday and fled the country following a massive protest over job quota. 

Soon after Hasina fled, army chief General Waker-Us-Zaman said the army was temporarily taking control of the country. In a televised address, the general said that an interim government will be formed soon even as he requested protesters not to “indulge in violence”.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who does not have executive powers under the Bangladesh Constitution, has ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and all students detained during recent protests. 

After chairing a meeting of army chiefs and political representatives, the president said an interim government would be formed and new elections would be called soon. 

Student leaders who spearheaded the protests against job quotas demanded that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus should head the new interim government. 

Nahid Islam, one of the organizers of the job quota movement, said in a video post on social media that student leaders have already spoken with Yunus, who consented to taking over the role.

Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance in Bangladesh, called Hasina’s resignation the country’s “second liberation day”. 

Under Hasina, Yunus faced several corruption accusations and was put on trial.