External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's statement in Parliament on Tuesday (August 6) was the first detailed articulation of India's position on the situation in Bangladesh. India had thus far insisted that the crisis that had engulfed that country for months was their “internal matter”. This is a concise summary of what Jaishankar said, put in context. FIRST, Jaishankar underlined that ties between India and Bangladesh had developed over the decades, and had been nurtured by successive governments from the Congress to the BJP, and the coalitions of the late 90s. “India-Bangladesh relations have been exceptionally close for many decades over many governments. Concern about recent violence and instability.is shared across the political spectrum,” he said. The minister was clearly seeking to generate a broad, non partisan political consensus in India on the situation in Bangladesh. SECOND, for the first time, India flagged the “tension” and “polarisation” created by this January's election that brought Sheikh Hasina to power for the fourth time since 2008, and which were widely seen as rigged. The election result formed the base of the discontent that erupted in the students' protests and street violence after the High Court on June 5 restored a 30% quota in government jobs that has historically benefited supporters of Hasina's Awami League. “Since the election in January 2024, there has been considerable tensions, deep divides and growing polarisation in Bangladesh politics. This underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year. There was growing violence, including attacks on public buildings and infrastructure, as well as traffic and rail obstructions. The violence continued through the month of July,” Jaishankar said. THIRD, Jaishankar revealed that the Indian government had offered counsel and advice to the Hasina government over the last seven months “in private”. The West, including the United States, had been extremely vocal about Hasina's authoritarian style of governance. “Throughout this period, we repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be defused through dialogue,” Jaishankar said. FOURTH, the minister told Parliament that India had also been in touch with political parties opposed to Hasina. This means that New Delhi has had conversations with former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's BNP and other political outfits who will now be in power — this is important because of concerns that India had over the years put all its eggs in the Awami League basket. “Similar urgings [for restraint] were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch,” the minister told Parliament. FIFTH, Jaishankar provided an account of the final two weeks of protests that ended with Hasina’s fall. He revealed that Hasina had finally resigned after she was nudged by the security establishment — the Bangladesh Army and police brass who met her on Monday morning. The events of the dramatic last hours of the Hasina government had made it clear that her resignation was the result of a last-minute decision. Jaishankar confirmed it through his statement. “Despite a [Bangladesh] Supreme Court judgment on 21 July (scaling back the freedom fighters' quota to 5% and leaving 93% seats unreserved), there was no let-up in the public agitation. Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation. The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda, that is that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down,” Jaishankar said. “On 4th August, events took a very serious turn. Attacks on police, including police stations and government installations, intensified even as overall levels of violence greatly escalated. Properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched across the country. What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear,” he said. “On 5th August, demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew. Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh 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,” the minister said. SIXTH, Jaishankar underlined the critical importance of the role of the Bangladesh Army chief, which is key to what happens next in that country. This is an important assessment — and New Delhi will be watching this aspect closely. “The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving. The Army Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, addressed the nation on 5th August. He spoke about assuming responsibility and constituting an interim government,” Jaishankar said. SEVENTH, the Indian government has put the onus of keeping safe and secure India's diplomatic facilities and its citizens in Bangladesh on the new establishment in Dhaka. “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 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students have already returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission,” Jaishankar said. “In terms of our diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments. We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilises,” he said. EIGHTH, the statement raised the issue of Hindus in Bangladesh, which is especially important to the BJP-led government in New Delhi. It acknowledged ongoing efforts by some groups in Bangladesh to take care of minorities, but stressed that the BSF is on alert for any eventuality. “We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities,” Jaishankar said. “There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their protection and well-being. We welcome that, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Our border guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation,” he said. FINALLY, Jaishankar called for a continuation of the “strong national consensus” on how to deal with the situation in the important neighbouring country. “In the last 24 hours, we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka. This is the situation as of now. I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been strong national consensus,” he said.
