Centre Calls All-Party Meet On Bangladesh Turmoil, S Jaishankar Briefs MPs

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar today chaired an all-party meeting to discuss the fall of Sheikh Hasina government and the Army’s takeover in neighbouring Bangladesh amid violent protests.

Mr Jaishankar briefed the leaders of all parties about the situation in the violence-hit nation and the steps taken by the Indian government.

Besides S Jaishankar, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also attended the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina resigned yesterday and fled the country as vast crowds of angry protesters demanded her exit.

Shortly after Ms Hasina resigned, Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the military will form an “interim government” and urged to protesters to stand down.

Ms Hasina landed at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, which is 30km from Delhi last evening. She was received by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to S Jaishankar about the violence in neighbouring Bangladesh – in which over 300 have died so far. There is no word yet if Mr Modi will meet Mrs Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina had sought to quell nationwide protests against her government but she fled the country after fresh clashes on Sunday in which nearly 100 people were killed.

The anti-government rallies that began last month against civil service job quotas escalated into some of the worst unrest of Prime Minister Hasina’s 15-year rule and shifted into wider calls for the 76-year-old to step down.