Foreign Hand Suspected in Bangladesh Protests: Former Indian Envoy

Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Foreign Secretary, Harsh Shringla, expressed concerns on Monday about the possibility of foreign interference in the ongoing protests against the Sheikh Hasina government.

Shringla emphasized India’s keen interest in maintaining peace and stability in Bangladesh, stating that New Delhi would engage with any government that emerges from the current situation. He underscored the strong people-to-people ties between the two nations.

While acknowledging the role of student protests over quotas, Shringla attributed the root cause of the crisis to the economic challenges faced by Bangladesh. The country has been grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by the Ukraine conflict, which has led to soaring inflation and a balance of payments crisis.

The former envoy pointed fingers at opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami, for capitalizing on the situation and fueling violence. He also raised the specter of foreign powers exploiting the unrest, potentially jeopardizing Bangladesh’s and India’s security interests.