Sheikh Hasina’s government collapses amid protests, prompting security concerns and diplomatic maneuvers.
India’s border forces have been put on high alert following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh. This move comes as the former prime minister fled to New Delhi amidst escalating protests and violence in her home country. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar confirmed Hasina’s arrival in the Indian capital, where she sought refuge after stepping down.
“At very short notice, she Hasina requested approval to come to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from the Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi,” Jaishankar told parliament on Tuesday.
Hasina, who was one of India’s closest allies in South Asia, left a significant vacuum with her departure, challenging New Delhi’s diplomatic and strategic stance in the region. Her resignation followed a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising that left scores dead and the political landscape in disarray. Jaishankar revealed that India is in ongoing contact with the Bangladeshi military, which has since taken control.
“Our border-guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation in the last 24 hours. We will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored,” Jaishankar stated.
India’s long and porous border with Bangladesh, stretching over 4,000 kilometers, has historically been a hotbed for insurgent activities. However, under Hasina’s leadership, the border had remained relatively calm. The recent upheaval threatens to reignite old tensions and poses a significant security risk for India.
The Indian minister also expressed serious concerns about the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh, highlighting that recent violence had targeted businesses, temples, and other places of worship. “What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their business and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear,” Jaishankar said.
Echoing these concerns, European Union diplomats in Bangladesh have reported similar issues. EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley posted on social media platform X, stating that EU heads of mission “are very concerned about incoming reports of multiple attacks against places of worship and members of religious, ethnic, and other minorities in Bangladesh.”
In response to the crisis, Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, paving the way for an interim government. Student groups leading the uprising have called for Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus to help steer the interim administration. Currently in Paris, Yunus described Hasina’s resignation as the country’s “second liberation day” in an interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV.
Yunus celebrated the fall of what he called “a very authoritarian government,” and emphasized the urgent need to restore democracy in Bangladesh. “The ultimate goal for stability is to bring democracy, which was completely denied in Bangladesh,” he asserted.
Yunus also warned of the broader regional implications if law and order are not swiftly reestablished. “If that cannot be achieved, there will be a spillover effect in neighboring countries,” he said, explicitly mentioning India and Myanmar.
As the situation continues to develop, all eyes are on Bangladesh and its neighbors to see how this political upheaval will reshape regional dynamics and impact millions of lives.
