In the all-party meeting held on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefed political leaders about the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh following the dramatic resignation and flight of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, who fled Dhaka and landed in Ghaziabad on Monday, is currently receiving support from the Indian government as she recovers from the shock of recent events.
Jaishankar reassured the meeting attendees, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, that India is actively assisting Sheikh Hasina. “Sheikh Hasina is in a state of shock, and we are giving her time to recover before discussing her future plans,” he stated. Additionally, Jaishankar emphasized that New Delhi had communicated with Bangladesh’s army chief to ensure the safety of over 10,000 Indian students in the country.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar shared on his X account, “Briefed an All-Party meeting in Parliament today about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh. Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that was extended.” His post highlighted the solidarity among political parties in supporting the government’s efforts during this crisis.
Congress leader Karti Chidambaram echoed this sentiment, stating that the party stands with the government on matters of national security and interest. The meeting saw participation from key figures including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister J P Nadda, JD(U) leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, DMK leader T R Baalu, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Trinamool leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, and NCP leader Supriya Sule.
Sheikh Hasina’s government has been grappling with violent protests over job quotas for select groups supporting her, resulting in over 300 deaths. Her departure from Bangladesh marks a critical point in the ongoing unrest.
On Tuesday, the military aircraft that brought Hasina to India returned to Bangladesh without her, as she awaits visa approval for political asylum in the United Kingdom. Her future plans, including a potential move to London, remain contingent on the outcome of her asylum request.