External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed an all-party meeting in Parliament on Tuesday, providing a briefing on the current situation in Bangladesh and the status of the approximately 12,000-13,000 Indians living in the violence-stricken country.
Jaishankar reassured that the situation did not necessitate the immediate evacuation of these individuals, despite the ongoing unrest following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
The meeting, which included all NDA allies and most Opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, was notable for the absence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which claimed it had not been invited. Jaishankar reported that about 8,000 Indians, primarily students, had already returned to India due to the recent protests.
He mentioned that discussions had been held with the recently resigned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to Bharat. “We are allowing Hasina some time to decide her next steps,” stated Jaishankar.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi urged the development of a medium- and long-term strategy, given that Bangladesh is now governed by an interim administration until new elections are held. He also highlighted student protesters’ demand for Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus to serve as chief adviser.
Jaishankar acknowledged the “fluid and developing” nature of the situation. Regarding the reported anti-Bharat sentiment in Bangladesh, he remarked that while it had been observed in some areas, any new government would need to manage relations with Bharat.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi highlighted the potential impact of the unrest in Bangladesh on Bharat, mentioning the importance of securing borders and ensuring the safety of Indian nationals in the region.
