Violence, instability in Bangladesh, a grave concern: Centre
Hindustan TimesIndia is deeply concerned about the violence and instability in Bangladesh, especially the status of minority communities and Indian nationals, and has established contact with the new dispensation in Dhaka after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. External affairs minister S Jaishankar, who made suo motu statements on developments in Bangladesh in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, said former premier Sheikh Hasina decided to quit after meeting leaders of the security establishment on Monday and sought approval to come to India “for the moment”. While detailing events that led up to Hasina’s resignation following weeks of violent protests, Jaishankar revealed that the Indian government had “repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be diffused through dialogue”. The Indian government is “deeply concerned” about the status of Bangladesh’s minority communities following reports of attacks on their businesses and temples at multiple locations, he said. He said Bangladesh’s politics were marked by “considerable tension, deep divides and growing polarisation” since the election in January, which gave Hasina an unprecedented fourth consecutive term as prime minister.