‘Unstable situation’: Indian visa centres in Bangladesh shut indefinitely

Wednesday’s scaling back of the diplomatic presence in Bangladesh was the first sign of concern in the Indian government over the poor security situation. Law and order has been disrupted across the country and there have been attacks on Awami League leaders, their homes, security personnel and their offices. Statues of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been vandalised, and mobs have invaded the Prime Minister’s residence and parliament.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated in the Rajya Sabha that the government is closely monitoring the situation concerning minorities in Bangladesh. He also informed that students studying in Bangladesh have returned to India with the assistance of the Indian Embassy.

The Indian government has also flagged the issue of safety and security of Indian interests — its diplomatic facilities, personnel and its citizens in Bangladesh and put the onus of keeping them safe on the new establishment in Dhaka.

Hours after New Delhi withdrew some of its personnel, Nobel laureate Prof Mohammad Yunus, the designated head of the interim government of Bangladesh, had fervently appealed to everybody to “stay calm” and “refrain from all kinds of violence”.