Speaking in Rajya Sabha on the situation in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, "...We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there of which about 9000 are students. The bulk of the students returned in July...We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their protection and well-being. Naturally, we will remain deeply concerned till law and order is restored. Our border guarding forces have been instructed to be exceptionally alert in video of this complex situation. In last 24 hours, we have been in touch with authorities in Dhaka."
#ExternalAffairsMinister #Jaishankar #RajyaSabha #IndianCommunityinBangladesh #BangladeshCrisis
~HT.178~ED.155~GR.125~
#ExternalAffairsMinister #Jaishankar #RajyaSabha #IndianCommunityinBangladesh #BangladeshCrisis
~HT.178~ED.155~GR.125~
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NewsTranscript
00:00India-Bangladesh relations have been exceptionally close for many decades over many governments.
00:09Concern about recent violence and instability there is shared across the political spectrum.
00:18Since the election in January 2024, there has been considerable tension, deep divides
00:26and growing polarization in Bangladesh politics.
00:30This underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year.
00:39There was growing violence including attacks on public buildings and infrastructure as
00:44well as traffic and rail obstruction.
00:48The violence continued through the month of July.
00:52Throughout this period, we repeatedly counseled restraint and urged that the situation be
00:59diffused through dialogue.
01:02Similar urgings were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch.
01:09So despite the Supreme Court judgment on 21 July, there was no let up in the public agitation.
01:18Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation.
01:24The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda that is that the Prime
01:31Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down.
01:36On 4 August, events took a very serious turn.
01:41Attacks on the police including police stations and government installations intensified even
01:47as overall levels of violence greatly escalated.
01:52Properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched across the country.
01:58What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under
02:05attack at multiple locations.
02:09The full extent of this is still not clear.
02:13On 5 August, demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew.
02:19Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment,
02:25Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign.
02:31At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India.
02:38We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities.
02:44She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi.
02:48The situation in Bangladesh, sir, is still evolving.
02:53The Army Chief General Vakharu Zaman addressed the nation on 5 August.
03:00He spoke about assuming responsibility and constituting an interim government.
03:07We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through
03:11our diplomatic missions.
03:13There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9,000 are students.
03:21The bulk of the students, however, have already returned to India in the month of July.
03:30In terms of our diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant
03:35High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.
03:41It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection
03:46for these establishments.
03:48We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilizes.
03:53Chairman, sir, we are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities.
04:00There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organizations to ensure their protection
04:06and well-being.
04:07We welcome that, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly
04:14restored.
04:15Our border-guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view
04:21of this complex situation.
04:25In the last 24 hours, we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka.
04:31This is the situation as of now.
04:34I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding
04:42an important neighbour on which there has always been strong national consensus.
04:48Don't miss out.
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