On Sunday in Bangladesh, at least 98 people died and hundreds were hurt when police used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up large crowds of protesters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discussed the violence in Bangladesh, which has resulted in over 300 deaths, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The conversation also covered the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the collapse of her government.
Here are the main points in this ongoing story (Bangladesh Riots):
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been informed about the situation in Bangladesh by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar. It is not yet known if Mr Modi will meet Mrs Hasina. Congress MP and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi has also talked to Mr. Jaishankar.
Sheikh Hasina escaped from her home in Dhaka just before it was taken over. She has now arrived at the Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, which is 30 km away from Delhi
Mrs. Hasina was greeted by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. She arrived on a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 military transport, which is currently parked near the Indian Air Force’s C-17 and C-130J planes. It is expected that she may fly to London to seek political asylum. The plane carrying Mrs Hasina is reportedly being refuelled for the journey to the UK.
In India, the Border Security Force is very alert right now. India has a long border of 4,096 kilometres with Bangladesh, and travel across it has been stopped. This means that trains and flights have been cancelled. For example, Air India, which usually runs two flights a day from Delhi to Dhaka, has also suspended its services.
In Meghalaya, which shares a 443-kilometer border with Bangladesh, a 12-hour night-time curfew has been put in place. From 6 pm, no one can be outside within 200 meters of the border. In Tripura, which has an 856-kilometer border with Bangladesh, the Tipra Motha party, which supports the ruling BJP, has been told by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that they will not allow any illegal crossings.
Earlier today, after Mrs Hasina resigned, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the military would form a temporary government. He asked protesters to stop. “There is a crisis. I have talked with Opposition leaders, and we have decided to form an interim government to lead the country. I take full responsibility and promise to protect your life and property. Your demands will be met. Please stop the violence,” he said.
Chaos broke out this morning when protesters stormed Gonobhaban, the Prime Minister’s residence in Dhaka. However, Mrs Hasina, who started her fifth term this year, had already fled. Sources said she and her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, left in a military helicopter. Later in the day, angry protesters also set fire to the home of former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
On Sunday, clashes between police and protesters led to 100 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. The protests, which started late last month, have become much more intense over the past few days after a major fight between students and police.
The protests started because of a system that reserves up to 30% of government jobs for families of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war with Pakistan. These demonstrations soon turned into a larger anti-government movement, drawing people from all parts of Bangladeshi society, including film stars, musicians, and singers.
The Bangladesh Supreme Court reduced the reservations to 5%. Student leaders paused the protests but resumed them when the government did not release their leaders as requested. This led to demands for Sheikh Hasina to resign.
With input from agencies (source by : NDTV website)