Jaishankar, India’s External Affair’s Minister, addresses Parliament on Bangladesh crisis

Sheikh Hasina Resignation: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addresses Bangladesh political crisis in Rajya Sabha, India offers help to former PM Hasina.

Concern about recent violence and instability in Bangladesh is shared by the political spectrum in India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said while making a suo moto statement on the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh, on the floor of the Rajya Sabha on August 6.

Mr. Jaishankar said that despite a Supreme Court decision, there was no let up in the months-long public agitation, and “The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one point agenda i.e. that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down.”

“Our understanding is that after a meeting with the leaders of the security establishment, PM Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. At very short notice she requested approval to come for the moment to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi.”

While recalling the “exceptionally close relations” between the two countries for many decades over many governments, he laid out a chronology of the situation in Bangladesh so far. Mr. Jaishankar said that the country had been facing “considerable tension, deep divides and growing polarisation in Bangladesh politics,” since its General elections in January 2024. He continued that this aggravated a student agitation that began in June.

The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving, he said, adding that the government is in close and continuous communication with the Indian community in Bangladesh. A bulk of the Indian students have already to India, Mr. Jaishankar said.

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Earleir in the day, Mr. Jaishankar informed an all-party meeting that India has assured help to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who arrived in India on Monday evening.